Zones are determined by assessing the expected height of a flood that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year (the “100-year-flood”), as well as considering potential wave heights, the distance from the nearest water body and the ground elevation. See How to Access and Read your Flood Insurance Rate Map for more information.įlood Zone: A geographic area on a flood map that indicates flood risk. Click here for the FEMA website.įlood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM): A Flood Insurance Rate Map, also known as a flood map, is a document (paper or digital) that delineates the boundaries of flood zones. It is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from, and mitigating man-made and natural disasters. Having this document on file can also help your community earn a flood insurance rate discount for you and other policyholders in your community.įederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): The Agency that operates the National Flood Insurance Program, located in the Department of Homeland Security. However, it is necessary to obtain this document to ensure that your flood insurance rates are accurate and not over-priced. If you have to obtain an elevation certificate, this will cost at least $300 in most cases, and up to $2,000 in some cases. Combining the elevation certificate with the property survey may save money and will allow for you to ensure you are receiving an accurate flood insurance rate. If you are purchasing a new home, consider asking for an elevation certificate as part of the property survey. Some will offer recommendations on the best surveyors to hire. If not, talk to your insurance agent or your community floodplain manager for help on how to get an elevation certificate. Talk to your community floodplain manager or building official to find out if your locality has up-to-date information on the elevation of your structure. It may also help your community earn a discount on flood insurance for all policyholders (see information about the Community Rating System here).Ĭlick here for more information on elevation certificates.įor more general information, see this Homeowner’s Guide to Elevation Certificates from FEMA.įor a blank, fillable NFIP elevation certificate and instructions from FEMA, click here. Without an elevation certificate, you may pay more than you actually owe therefore, obtaining an elevation certificate is very important. If your lowest floor is elevated above base flood elevation, your rates will likely be low. If your lowest floor is a basement below ground, you are likely well below base flood elevation and your rates will be high. If your property is located in an A- or V-zone and you have been paying subsidized rates, you will need an elevation certificate to determine your actual flood risk and ensure that FEMA charges you fairly and accurately as your subsidies are phased out. If the land that your structure sits on is high, an elevation certificate can also help you prove that your land is high enough that it should be classified as a lower-risk flood zone. For examples, see the FEMA graphic below (from the Homeowner’s Guide To Elevation Certificates):Įlevation Certificate (EC): An elevation certificate determines the elevation of your structure (the lowest floor) in relation to the base flood elevation, the benchmark flood height used on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (see above for more information about base flood elevation). The further the structure is below the BFE, the higher its rates will be. If the structure is below the BFE, particularly if it has a below-grade (below ground) crawl space or basement, the risk of flooding for that structure is high and flood insurance rates will be accordingly high. If the structure is elevated above the BFE, it has a low risk of flooding and will receive lower flood insurance rates. The BFE is used to determine the risk of flooding for each structure in A- and V-zones by comparing the BFE to the elevation of the lowest floor of the structure. For example, “EL 3” means the base flood elevation is 3 feet. Underneath each A- or V-zone designation the BFE will be marked as “EL #”, where # is a number of feet that varies by location. The BFE is expressed on a flood map as a number of feet. The BFE is identified in the Special Flood Hazard Area, made up of A- and V-zones. Base Flood Elevation (BFE): The expected height of water during a flood that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |