Post-Preliminary Processing - Digital Flood Map

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FEMA Post - Preliminary Processing — Digital Flood Map To support an appeal, the appellant should recalculate the BFE and provide the justification for the new methodology or change in assumptions. BFEs can also be appealed if they are technically incorrect, which means there is an error in the analysis. The error may consist of data that are incorrect or errors in the application of the analysis. When FEMA receives an appeal, further processing of the preliminary DFIRM and FIS report is suspended until the appeal is resolved If warranted, FEMA will revise the preliminary DFIRM and FIS report. Under Federal regulations, the required scientific and /or technical data to support an appeal must be submitted during the 90 -day appeal period to receive consideration. During the 90 -day appeal period, county officials or an individual property owner may wish to object to information shown on the preliminary DFIRM or FIS report other than the BFEs. Data and documentation must also be submitted to support these comments. All appeals and other comments should be collected by Hawaii County and submitted to the FEMA regional office at: FEMA Region IX Attention: Eric Simmons 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200 Oakland, CA 94607 -4052 All appeals and other comments should be submitted through Hawaii County. Map Adoption /Compliance After all appeals and other comments are addressed, FEMA will issue a Letter of Final Determination to Hawaii County, which establishes the final base flood elevations and provides the new effective date of the updated DFIRM and FIS report. The Letter of Final Determination also starts the six -month adoption /compliance period during which Hawaii County may need to adopt or amend its floodplain management regulations to reflect the new DFIRM and FIS report. Ordinances must meet or exceed Title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 60.3, and be legally enforceable before the DFIRM effective date. The new DFIRM and FIS report become effective for flood insurance purposes at the end of the six -month period. The effective date is also the date when flood insurance rates may be based on the new flood hazard data. July 21, 2011 Should Hawaii County fail to update its ordinance, if needed, it will be subject to suspension from the National Flood Insurance Program, which would make flood insurance and certain types of Federal disaster assistance unavailable within the community. Suspension of a participating community occurs automatically when a community fails to adopt an updated ordinance within six months of the Letter of Final Determination that notified them of that requirement. It is Hawaii County's responsibility to notify FEMA Region IX once the county has updated the ordinances. FEMA and the State National Flood Insurance Program Coordinator can work with Hawaii County to update the county ordinance and avoid suspension. Map Change Options In addition to the appeal process, county officials and citizens may submit scientific or technical data to improve the flood hazard information shown on the effective DFIRM for their community at any time. FEMA established the Letter of Map Amendment and Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill processes for individual structures or lots, and the Letter of Map Revision process for more extensive changes. Detailed information on map revisions and amendments is provided in the Guide for Community Officials and on FEMA's web site (see links on the sidebar to the left). Flood Insurance Implications If a structure is in a mapped high -risk area (shown as a zone labeled with letters starting with "A" or "V ") and the owner has a mortgage through a federally regulated or insured lender, flood insurance is required by federal law. For structures to be newly mapped in a "V,, or "A" zone when the new DFIRM becomes effective (scheduled early 2013) flood insurance maybe required; these affected property owners who obtain flood insurance before the DFIRM becomes effective and then maintain it may be able to benefit from the National Flood Insurance Program's "grandfathering" process and pay lower insurance premiums. Everyone is at some risk from flooding. Therefore, FEMA encourages everyone to understand their risk and consider purchasing flood insurance. Property owners should contact their insurance agent or visit www.FloodSmart.gov for more information.