Bono Consulting has prepared applications for numerous letter of map amendment to either amend an incorrect flood determination on a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), or to document a change in the conditions due to placing fill. We prepare a topographic survey of the property tied into a FEMA benchmark. Often, the FIRM Maps are incorrect and a property that is shown to be in the flood zone is actually elevated above the base flood elevation and can be removed from the zone. If this is the case then you would be applying for a LOMA. If you are proposing to change the grades around your structure to remove the structure from the floodplain, this can be readily accomplished as long as you propose to offest the fill with the apporpriate amount of Compensatory Storage. After the work is completed, the work needs to be verified that the structure was in fact removed from the flood plain and that the compensatory storage was constructed in accordance with the approved plans. In this case you would nned a LOMR-F.
Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs), Conditional Letters of Map Amendment (CLOMAs), Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-Fs), and Conditional Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill (CLOMR-Fs), as defined below. Please note that not all of the forms apply to every request. Only those forms that apply to the request should be submitted.
- LOMA A letter from DHS-FEMA stating that an existing structure or parcel of land that has not been elevated by fill (natural grade) would not be inundated by the base flood.
- CLOMA A letter from DHS-FEMA stating that a proposed structure that is not to be elevated by fill (natural grade) would not be inundated by the base flood if built as proposed.
- LOMR-F A letter from DHS-FEMA stating that an existing structure or parcel of land that has been elevated by fill would not be inundated by the base flood.
- CLOMR-F A letter from DHS-FEMA stating that a parcel of land or proposed structure that will be elevated by fill would not be inundated by the base flood if fill is placed on the parcel as proposed or the structure is built as proposed
Compensatory Storage is a volume of space that offsets or compensates for any fill placed in the flood plain. If one cubic foot of fill is placed in the flood plain, then one cubic foot of fill needs to be removed to offset the fill. Many communities have multipliers so that for every cubic foot of fill, one and one half cubic feet of cut would be required.
Floodplain Engineering Chicago | Storm Water Management Engineering Chicago
Floodplain Engineering | Storm Water Management Engineering