What are flood surveys?

Flood Elevation Certificates/Letter Of Map Amendment(LOMA) FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has issued a series of maps roughly determining which properties are susceptible to flooding. If any part of a property falls within these designated flood areas, your lending institution may require you to purchase flood insurance on your home to protect their investment. Flooding is not covered under normal homeowners insurance, and annual premiums for flood insurance can be costly. In many cases, some or all of the structure can be above the “base flood elevation” as determined by FEMA or the area hydrologist. Johnson & Scofield can conduct a survey producing a Flood Elevation Certificate documenting vertical elevations of the structure and the adjacent land to determine if it has been accurately designated to a flood zone. If the documented elevations prove that the structure is located above the base flood elevation, our staff can request a LOMA from FEMA to remove the structure from the designated flood zone, relieving the requirement of flood insurance. In situations where it is determined that all or part of the construction falls below the base flood elevation, a Flood Elevation Certificate is still a viable asset. Flood insurance companies can accurately determine premiums, based on the data documented on the Flood Elevation Certificate.