Flood Map Change Services

Letter of Map Change (LOMC) is a term used to describe the types of revisions and amendments that FEMA can make to their flood maps.  Instead of going through the time and expense of revising the entire map, FEMA will issue a letter stating the flood zone status of a property or properties. An LOMC is how FEMA officially removes a structure or property from a high-risk flood zone.

What do FEMA’s flood maps have to do with my situation?

FEMA publishes flood maps to show the areas across the country that have a risk of flooding. Insurance companies use these flood maps to properly rate the flood insurance policy. Regulated lenders are mandated to use the maps to determine if insurance is required to protect their collateral. Coverage for most flood insurance sold in the United States is provided by the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program, which is a part of FEMA.

Why would a flood map need to be changed?

It’s simply impossible for flood maps to reflect every small rise and fall in the elevation of the entire country. The mind boggles at how much that would cost taxpayers. 

So despite the federal government using the best mapping information available, areas that are at or above the flood elevation may be inadvertently shown within a high-risk flood zone. Also, the placement of fill dirt may have elevated small areas within the flood zone to an elevation at or above the Base Flood Elevation.

Don’t gamble on your home.

25% to 30% of all flood insurance claims are paid to people in low- to moderate-risk flood zones.* So even though an LOMC can remove the federal flood insurance requirement, our recommendation is that you don’t gamble your home, your possessions, and your financial well-being on a flood. Look at it this way. An LOMC means you could get lower cost flood protection with the National Flood Insurance Program’s Preferred Risk Policy for properties that aren’t in high-risk flood zones.

*Source: www.fema.gov – FloodSmart Fast Facts