CFS FEMA Map Amendment & Revision Processes 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What fundamentally distinguishes a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) from a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)?
- A LOMR reflects physical changes to flooding conditions in the floodplain, while a LOMA corrects inadvertent mapping errors (Correct answer)
- A LOMR is processed faster than a LOMA and requires less documentation
- A LOMR applies only to individual structures, while a LOMA applies to entire communities
- A LOMR is issued by state agencies, whereas a LOMA is issued directly by FEMA
Correct answer: A LOMR reflects physical changes to flooding conditions in the floodplain, while a LOMA corrects inadvertent mapping errors
A LOMR revises the FIRM based on physical changes to the floodplain (new levees, channelization, fill, etc.), while a LOMA simply corrects a mapping error for a property whose natural ground was always above the BFE.
Question 2: Which FEMA application form is required to submit a LOMR request?
- MT-EZ
- MT-1
- MT-2 (Correct answer)
- MT-3
Correct answer: MT-2
MT-2 is the standard FEMA application form for Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) and Conditional Letters of Map Revision (CLOMR), covering community-wide map changes.
Question 3: FEMA's target processing time for a standard LOMR application is approximately:
- 30 calendar days
- 60 calendar days (Correct answer)
- 120 calendar days
- 180 calendar days
Correct answer: 60 calendar days
FEMA targets approximately 60 calendar days to process a standard LOMR, though complex revisions involving detailed hydraulic analysis may take longer.
Question 4: When a LOMR revises floodway boundaries, which technical data submission is mandatory?
- Hydraulic model output documenting new floodway limits and BFE changes, certified by a registered PE (Correct answer)
- Only a narrative description of the construction project and its intended purpose
- A community resolution signed by the local governing body accepting the new boundaries
- Flood insurance claim history for properties within the revised area
Correct answer: Hydraulic model output documenting new floodway limits and BFE changes, certified by a registered PE
Floodway revisions require certified hydraulic modeling input and output files demonstrating the revised floodway does not cause an increase in BFEs beyond allowed surcharge limits.
Question 5: For a LOMR-F, which specific condition must be certified by a licensed engineer or licensed land surveyor?
- The lowest adjacent grade of the structure is at or above the Base Flood Elevation after fill placement (Correct answer)
- The fill material meets FEMA-specified compaction and density standards
- The floodway has been relocated away from the structure as a result of filling
- The community's CRS classification has improved following the fill project
Correct answer: The lowest adjacent grade of the structure is at or above the Base Flood Elevation after fill placement
The central certification for a LOMR-F is that the lowest adjacent grade (LAG) is now at or above the BFE, confirming the fill has elevated the site sufficiently to justify removal from the SFHA.
Question 6: A required component of every LOMR application is:
- A community acknowledgment letter signed by the local floodplain administrator (Correct answer)
- A copy of the property owner's current NFIP flood insurance policy
- State legislature approval of the revised flood boundaries
- A federal court order authorizing the map change
Correct answer: A community acknowledgment letter signed by the local floodplain administrator
FEMA requires a community acknowledgment letter to confirm that the local floodplain administrator has reviewed the proposed revision and that the community agrees to enforce regulations for the revised area.
Question 7: In a LOMR application that revises Base Flood Elevations, the hydraulic analysis package must include:
- Certified input and output files from the hydraulic model and a technical report sealed by a registered PE (Correct answer)
- Only a written narrative summarizing the modeled changes in plain language
- A community letter stating they will accept the proposed new BFEs without modification
- An Environmental Impact Statement approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Correct answer: Certified input and output files from the hydraulic model and a technical report sealed by a registered PE
FEMA requires fully certified hydraulic model files and a stamped technical report so reviewers can independently verify the BFE calculations before revising the FIRM.
CFS FEMA Map Amendment & Revision Processes 2
What fundamentally distinguishes a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) from a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)?