1. What is a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)? If a homeowner has a LOMA, is flood insurance still required?
LOMAs are the result of an application process through which an individual property owner, or other interested party, may submit materials to FEMA that support a belief that the property should not be required to have flood insurance. If the building on a property (and the ground adjacent to the building) is at a natural elevation (not elevated by fill dirt) higher than the Base Flood Elevation, then FEMA will usually issue a LOMA, removing the property from the SFHA.

The flood insurance requirement is not waived unless or until the LOMA, which states that the building is outside of the SFHA, is issued. Until the flood map is amended by the LOMA, lending institutions are bound by the information shown on the current flood map. If a LOMA is issued, then the Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form can be updated. Once this occurs, the flood insurance requirement may be waived. Importantly, the lending institution may continue the flood insurance requirement to protect its interest. The borrower should be encouraged to consider flood insurance coverage as approximately 25 percent of all claims paid by the NFIP are on properties outside of the SFHA.

See our Flood Compliance Kit for more information on the LOMA process.

2. What is a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR)? How does it differ from a LOMA?
A LOMR is an official revision to a community's current flood map. It is used to change flood zones, flood elevations, mapping features, and floodplain and floodway delineations. Because a community must approve and adopt any revision to its flood map, requests for LOMRs must involve the community. This is true even if the change is to a single property that will be raised by fill dirt. In this instance, a Letter of Map Revision Based On Fill (LOMR-F), which can revise the flood map for a single property, is the appropriate procedure. Other LOMRs are much more detailed, technical, and expensive, and may even involve revising the floodplain along the entire stretch of a river through a community.

A LOMR and a LOMA have different purposes. A LOMR involves revisions to a flood map based upon changes on the ground as opposed to a LOMA, which is an amendment to a flood map because it mistakenly showed a property within the SFHA.

3. How does one apply for a LOMA or LOMR?
A property owner, or other involved party, can apply for a LOMA by completing the LOMA application and submitting the additional required documents to FEMA at the following address: FEMA NATIONAL SERVICE PROVIDER, 3601 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304-6425, Attn.: LOMA Manager. Applications are available through the FEMA Map Assistance Center (877-336-2627), www.fema.gov, or by contacting First American's Client Services Department at (800) 447-1772.

Along with the completed application, applicants need to provide (1) A copy of the FIRM showing the location of the property, (2) An Elevation Certificate or other elevation documentation certified by a licensed surveyor or engineer, (3) A site plan or survey showing the location of the improvements on the property, and (4) A recorded deed or plat with the community's recordation stamp. FEMA takes 6-8 weeks to process applications for LOMAs provided that the required documentation is provided.

For Letters of Map Revision Based Upon Fill (LOMR-F), in addition to the above requirements, FEMA requires a processing fee in order to recover the costs associated with review and processing of the file, and a Community Acknowledgement Form to be completed by a community official. All LOMRs, including LOMR-Fs, must involve the community since changes to a given property or geographic area might affect drainage to the surrounding area. CoreLogic has additional information regarding the LOMA and the LOMR-F application processes available in the CoreLogic Flood Compliance Kit.

LOMRs and Conditional Letters of Map Revision (CLOMRs) are more detailed and technical than any other application procedure, requiring the active involvement of the community and FEMA; therefore, it is prudent that the applicant involve the community at the onset of the application. Contact FEMA with any questions regarding the required fees and documentation for a LOMR and CLOMR as they vary depending on the particular project. LOMR and CLOMR applications should be sent to FEMA.

4. Is there a faster way to apply for a LOMA?

eLOMA is a Web-based application that enables qualified users to submit simple LOMA requests to FEMA online and receive a determination in minutes in most cases. Through the use of eLOMA, licensed surveyors and professional engineers can set up an account using their individual license certification information and can obtain a determination in the time it takes to enter the required information.

eLOMA is not right for every property and situation. Currently, eLOMA is able to process requests pertaining to existing single residential structures or properties, provided no fill has been added to raise the elevation. Approximately half of the LOMAs processed annually meet the criteria for eLOMAs.

5. What is a Conditional Letter of Map Revision and can it be used to waive the flood insurance requirement?
A Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) is a formal opinion from FEMA that states whether or not a proposed project complies with floodplain management criteria and whether or not changes will be made to the existing Flood Map once the project is completed. The mandatory purchase of flood insurance requirement is based upon the current flood map; thus, a lending institution cannot waive the flood insurance requirement based upon a CLOMR.

Once the project is completed, FEMA can review the CLOMR and the finished construction; if appropriate, it will issue a final LOMR that lenders can use to waive the flood insurance requirement.



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