During last week's New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management (NJAFM) conference, Crystal Tramunti (FEMA Region II) and I co-presented an interactive workshop on electronic Letters of Map Amendment (eLOMAs) that included demonstrations of how to write FEMA-approved legal descriptions and how to calculate a Base Flood Elevation using a Flood Insurance Study. Our goal was to educate stakeholders about the eLOMA process and also describe how to more precisely interpret a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), in order to help communities better plan for and reduce risks from flooding.

The Difference between a LOMA and an eLOMA

A Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) is an official flood hazard determination from FEMA concerning whether a property or structure is located within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as delineated on the community's effective FIRM.

LOMAs benefit the community by fine-tuning the FIRM in a specific area. FIRMs do not show addresses or property-specific information, and scale limitations do not allow for every rise and fall in terrain to be reflected, so there are instances where an individual will need to obtain an official flood hazard determination for his/her property to avoid a flood insurance requirement, obtain a building permit, or to reduce flood insurance rates. The LOMA process allows the elevation of the structure or lot to be compared to the flood level reflected on the FIRM in that location, and the final letter amends the FIRM to include the results.

Historically, a LOMA application and the required property information are mailed to FEMA for review and determinations are processed by LOMA case analysts within 60 days. But the eLOMA process allows licensed professionals to submit simple LOMA requests free-of-charge through an online platform, generating a result much faster than when requested by mail.

A Missed Opportunity in New Jersey

In 2010, it was estimated that more than half of annual LOMA requests nationally have been eligible for the eLOMA process. Since June 2006, when FEMA made eLOMA available as an option, only 124 eLOMAs have been completed in New Jersey while more than 2,800 LOMAs have been processed by mail. Many LOMA requests are very time sensitive in nature and stakeholders in New Jersey have been missing an opportunity to obtain quick determinations with no associated processing fees.

NJAFM: A Positive Outcome

The NJAFM workshop was a great experience. Unfortunately, the majority of the participants were not individuals who would be eligible to complete the eLOMA process; it's limited to those who are licensed within the state to certify vertical elevations. However, many local code officials were in attendance and were able to learn about the process to recommend it to those either in need of a LOMA, or to surveyors who are eligible to complete the process. Additionally, the demonstration of how to determine the Base Flood Elevation using the Flood Insurance Study was beneficial to those code officials who are reviewing permit applications and determining how to enforce floodplain management regulations.

How Stakeholders Can Capitalize on this Opportunity

If you're interested in learning more about the eLOMA process, visit the FEMA Mapping Information Platform and click the link "Learn about eLOMA." Also visit our Google site which contains our NJAFM presentation slides along with a few other helpful links.