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INFORMATION ON FEMA'S 2010 FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP UPDATE
FEMA currently has draft copies of their new proposed Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) available for public review. These maps designate which homes are susceptible to flooding. If your home is in an area which these maps have determined is susceptible to flooding and you have a Federally-backed mortgage, your bank will require you to obtain flood insurance once these new maps become effective.
CLICK HERE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE PROPOSED MAPS' DIRECTORY.
LOSSES DUE TO FLOODING ARE NOT COVERED ON MOST HOMEOWNER OR BUSINESS INSURANCE POLICIES!
Important information to know:
If the previous maps did not show your home in a flood zone and if you have a federally-backed loan for your house and you do not currently carry flood insurance, you will be contacted by your lender after the new maps become effective regarding this requirement. You will have 45 days to purchase flood insurance on your house after you are notified. Once this time period has ended, if you have not obtained a policy, the lender can force place the flood insurance and charge you for the cost. Force placed flood insurance is substantially higher in cost than a flood insurance policy you purchase on your own. You can, however, do yourself a favor and purchase a flood insurance policy PRIOR to the new maps becoming effective. You would be rated for the lower flood risk zone (from the previous maps), and this rate would be “grandfathered” as long as your policy remains continuous.
If the previous maps showed your house in a flood zone and the new maps no long show your home in the flood zone, the federal government will no longer require your lender to enforce the mandatory purchase requirement for flood insurance on your house. However, your lender may still require flood insurance since they have an interest in protecting their investment. Even though you may not be required by law to carry flood insurance, you should consider having your policy re-rated for a possible Preferred Risk Policy as this could reduce your flood insurance premiums. Furthermore, this would still give you the financial protection in case of a flood disaster greater than the 1%-annual-chance flood. Please remember that nearly one-third of all flood insurance claims are in areas outside of the mapped flood hazard areas, and homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Please contact your insurance agent for details.
In order for you to cancel your flood insurance policy, you need to contact your lender for a floodplain redetermination for your home. If the redetermination results in your home being located outside of the flood hazard area, you need to have your lender provide you with written verification stating that flood insurance WAS required as part of your mortgage, but due to the map revision, is no longer required. You need to take this verification to your insurance agent and request they complete FEMA form 81-17, Flood Insurance Cancellation/Nullification Request Form. You should have them submit that form on your behalf. You may be entitled to a full or pro-rated refund of up to one year’s premium depending on whether you have ever filed a flood insurance claim.
Can I appeal information presented on these new flood maps?
You can formally appeal or protest information that is presented on the new maps. An appeal may be filed if there is an objection to the new or revised base flood elevation(s) on the preliminary DFIRMs. Justification for appeals may include incorrect methodologies, poor data quality, measurement errors, or physical changes to the floodplain since the new study. Appeals must include technical data that show why the maps are incorrect, and how they should be changed. Simply stating that “the flood elevations are incorrect” is not sufficient.
If you notice other errors on the map that are not related to the flood elevations, you may file a formal protest. A protest is generally filed to correct erroneous map features such as floodplain boundaries, road names, or stream names. All appeals and protests you wish to file should be submitted to your community Floodplain Administrator, Brenda VanCleave, City of Pickerington, 51 E. Columbus Street, Pickerington, OH 43147.
Where can I view a copy of the new flood maps?
Copies of the existing and proposed flood maps are available at the City’s Building and Engineering Building located at 51 E. Columbus Street, Pickerington, Ohio. The City’s Floodplain Administrator is Brenda VanCleave and she can be reached at (614) 833-2221 or bvancleave@pickerington.net.
Also, you may view the maps at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Floodplain Management Program’s office located at 2045 Morse Road, Building B-2, Columbus, Ohio 43229. Please call the Floodplain Management Program at (614) 265-6750 if you have any questions.
