Why should I have an Elevation Certificate for my property?

The Elevation Certificate is an important administrative tool of the NFIP. It is to be used to provide elevation information necessary to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances, to determine the proper insurance premium rate, and to support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision based on Fill (LOMR-F). The Elevation Certificate is required in order to properly rate Post-FIRM buildings, which are buildings constructed after publication of the FIRM located in Flood Zones. The Elevation Certificate is not required for Pre-FIRM buildings unless the building is being rated under the optional Post-FIRM flood insurance rules. Use of this certificate does not provide a waiver of the flood insurance purchase requirement.

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1. What does FEMA stand for?
2. What is a flood?
3. What is a floodplain?
4. What is the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?
5. How does the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) benefit the community?
6. What is the Community Rating System (CRS)?
7. What is a 100-Year Flood Zone or Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)?
8. What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)?
9. What is a base flood elevation (BFE)?
10. What are my odds of flooding within a 100-year floodplain?
11. How do I know if I am in a flood zone?
12. My house is in a floodplain - what do I need to know?
13. Who has to buy flood insurance?
14. What is Pre-FIRM and Post-FIRM?
15. What is an Elevation Certificate?
16. Who can prepare an Elevation Certificate?
17. Why should I have an Elevation Certificate for my property?
18. What is a Letter of Map Change (LOMC)?
19. What are the different types of LOMC?
20. How long does it take to obtain a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA), Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), or physical map revision?
21. My mortgage company has informed me that my house is in a floodplain and that I will be required to purchase flood insurance - what do I need to know?
22. What is floodplain management?
23. Where can I find more information about the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?