Your lowest adjacent grade (LAG) is below the BFE but the lowest finished floor elevation (FFE) is above the BFE. This process is called a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). In this situation, it is possible that the flood insurance requirement may be removed. Your lot is “in” the flood hazard zone but the lowest adjacent grade (LAG) around your house is “out” or above the base flood elevation (BFE). Your situation may now be one of the following:Ī. This puts you under the requirement for flood insurance. Your lot is currently or proposed to be shown in the flood hazard zone as specified on the maps or the elevation certificate. An evaluation of your risk is quick and easy.Ģ. In this case there is no requirement for the purchase of flood insurance.īut, as we said below, if there is ANY risk you might want to consider it. Out of the flood hazard zone completely on the old and new maps. The following are the possible situations in which you may find yourself:ġ. If you are currently shown to be in or near a flood hazard zone, or if you’re going to be in or near a flood hazard on the proposed maps, NOW is the time to act. Now that you know a little about the overall situation, how does this affect you directly? This is their prerogative.Īgain, the rates should be rather low in this case, but there are some costs nonetheless. You should also know that the mortgage lender may also require flood insurance even if it is determined you don’t need it. Of course, they would want you to do so because they are protected also. …if the loan is federally insured or the lender is regulated by the federal government Elevation Certificate Required for Flood Insurance QuoteĪs stated above, your mortgage company may be required to ask you to purchase flood insurance. Again, your homeowner policy is useless in this case but a flood policy would cover this damage. You should also know that just because you’re above the BFE and far away from a running stream, many dry ditches have caused significant damage to a home during a flash flood. Your homeowner policy has an exclusion from any flood damage. A $300 policy may well be worth the peace of mind it brings. Therefore, if you are four feet above the BFE the rates should be lower than if you were at or below the BFE. Mortgage insurance rates are generally less the higher above the base flood elevation your finished flooris located. Over the life of a 30 year mortgage there is a 26% chance of having a flood event that exceeds the base flood elevation. Remember, the 1-percent chance storm has a 1 percent chance of being met OR EXCEEDED in any year. For those homeowners with a mortgage, purchasing flood insurance is mandatory in a participating community if the loan is federally insured or the lender is regulated by the federal government.įlood insurance is highly advisable even if you’re not required to purchase but are located near a stream or lake – get a flood determination report for your area. FEMA is required to assess its flood hazard map inventory at least once every 5 years for flood determination.īut, because of funding shortfalls, it’s been over 15 years for some communities. When you get the amount of rain comprising the 1-percent storm the flood water will come to a certain elevation near your home, known as the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). This has been known in the past as the 100 year floodand is also known as the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). These maps show the areas of potential flooding based on the 1-percent chance storm event. Recently many areas of Texas, including Bexar County, completed the process of updating the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs)for possible determining the flood risk in a specific area.

“Thanks- this helped a lot – quote went down to $460 – down from $2599.” – Staci Herring, State Farm Insurance Flood survey & elevation certificates using flood maps If you need an elevation certificate or flood survey, please call one of our land surveyors at (210) 405-7250 or fill out our contact form to the right.

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