Floodplain Management News
Current Floodplain Management News and Bulletins:
Changes to NFIP – New Risk Rating 2.0 (effective 2022): The NFIP was recently revamped with new changes affecting how flood insurance policies are calculated and written. Two notable changes are that NFIP policies are no longer based exclusively on floodzones and base flood elevations, and that FEMA’s longstanding “grandfathering” provision for older properties has been eliminated. However, the maximum limit of coverage did not increase to account for inflation and remained the same at a low $250,000 per claim per insurable structure. This has caused many property owners to obtain supplemental “excess” flood insurance policies through the Private market. Private market policy costs can still be lowered via a LOMR, as they are still based on floodzones and base flood elevations. We urge you to contact your flood insurance agent for more information regarding these new changes and how they will affect you and your flood insurance needs going forward.
New Adverse Limit of Moderate Wave Activity (LiMWA) line on newly issued FEMA floodmaps: A new regulatory construction requirements line has been delineated on all newly issued FEMA floodmaps. This line is called the Limit of Moderate Wave Activity (LiMWA) line and is denoted on a new floodmap by a solid black line with intermittent black triangles, pointing in the direction of the existing “V” floodzone. This area is considered a special “Coastal A” floodzone. As such, all new or substantially new development within this LiMWA zone is required by FEMA rule to be developed to “V” floodzone standards, with no exceptions or waivers permitted. FZR, LLC can perform a LOMR/CLOMR to relocate or remove the LiMWA line from a particular coastal property.
https://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/784/Coastal-A-Zone- Fact-Sheet-PDF
New FEMA Flood Maps Issued for most of Central Florida: In 2020 and 2021, most counties in central Florida – including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, and St. Lucie – received new FEMA flood maps. In some areas, “V” and “A” floodzone coverages decreased, where in other areas there were increases in coverages; the same is true for Base Flood Elevations. And new “Coastal A” floodzones were added to the coastal sections of these counties. If your property is located within one of these counties, please be aware of these recent floodmap changes and how they will affect your future flood insurance premiums or new development plans.
Preliminary FEMA Floodmaps issued for South Florida: In 2019 and 2020, new Preliminary FEMA floodmaps were issued for all counties in South Florida, including Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Monroe, Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. These preliminary floodmaps are in the process of being issued as final, with expected issuance ranging from late 2022 through 2024. In some areas, “V” and “A” floodzone coverages decreased, where in other areas there were increases in coverages; the same is true for Base Flood Elevations. And new “Coastal A” floodzones were added to the coastal sections of these counties. If your property is located within one of these counties, please be aware of these proposed floodmap changes and how they will affect your future flood insurance premiums or new development plans.
Fraudulent LOMAs in South Florida: Any structure developed within an “A” floodzone must have been elevated to or above the corresponding BFE using structural fill – or else the associated building permit would never have been granted. When this is the case, a LOMA-F (not a LOMA) must be submitted to both the local Floodplain Administrator (FPA) and FEMA for review and approval. There is also a review fee, payable to FEMA, for every LOMA-F submittal.
It has come to our attention that fraudulent LOMAs have been submitted to FEMA on behalf of properties in the South Florida area. Several companies (both engineering and non-engineering based) have submitted falsified LOMAs – instead of LOMA-Fs – to avoid having to charge application fees to their clients and to avoid possible disapproval of the application by the local FPA.
Property owners please be aware of this issue and understand that if your structure was elevated with fill to or above any FEMA-established BFE, then a LOMA-F application must be submitted. If you feel that the increased costs associated with a LOMA-F submittal do not justify having the job done, then simply walk away from the effort – do not accept having any company tell you a LOMA will otherwise suffice. You should report any company you believe is committing this wrongdoing directly to your local Floodplain Administrator or building official.