IMPROVING YOUR FEMA FLOOD INSURANCE RATES David G. Ray, PLS Nantasket Survey Engineering, LLC Hull, MA

When do you have to have flood insurance:

Flood insurance is tied to the requirement to protect a lending institutions note on your property. If your property falls within the flood zone on a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map then your will be required to carry flood insurance.

So what did that mean? If you owe money on your home then the lending institution will contact a national flood directory company and request a determination of whether your property is in a flood zone. The flood directory company reviews the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map and determines whether or not you home is in the flood zone. If they determine that your home is in the flood zone then you will be requested to carry flood insurance. If you don’t carry flood insurance then the lending institution will carry it for you and add it to the cost of your mortgage/loan (note that in this circumstance you are typically paying a significantly higher rate for flood insurance).

FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map

Things to know about this process: Did the identifying company correctly identify your home? Are the maps accurate in your area? How much risk is my home in? Is there anything I can do?

Get an Elevation Certificate o These a prepared by either a registered professional engineer, architect, or land surveyor. o Once an Elevation Certificate has been prepare you will now know whether your home was correctly identified in the flood zone and if you are in a flood zone the certificate can be used to correctly identify the level of risk that your home is in. o An Elevation Certificate can also be used to identify how you can reduce the level of risk your home is in thus potentially reducing the cost for flood insurance.

OK so I’m in a flood zone what can I do to reduce my flood insurance? Depending on the zone you are in there are several approaches. First thing you have to review is whether the living space is above or below the flood zone. If it is below then you need to elevate the home. If it is above then you need to make the foundation FEMA compliant. In a velocity zone FEMA compliance means you are sitting on a pier foundation. In an A zone a FEMA compliant foundation can be a concrete foundation but needs to have flood vents.

What is FEMA Compliancy? In a flood zone there cannot be a basement? FEMA defines a basement as a floor that is below grade on all four sides. If we are in an A zone then the footprint floor area of the foundation needs to be protected from Hydrostatic Pressure by using flood vents to equalize the pressure. No living space can be in the flood zone. Garages and storage are acceptable. In a V zone the home must be on piers or pilings.

If your home was below the flood and zone and you want to elevate there are some things to know. There are Federal grant programs that can help with the cost. Smaller homes you are looking at K. You won’t be able to live in the house during the process. Permitting can take up to a year and the grant process can take 1-2 years. You’ll need to hire a land surveyor, structural engineer, and possibly an architect. You might have to seek a height variance. You will be in front of your conservation commission.

Benefits of having a FEMA Compliant Home? Peace of mind that your home is designed to withstand flooding. Lower flood insurance costs. Higher home value as it insurers at a lower rate and is designed to be in the environment it is in. Lower yearly maintenance costs. Better views. Car ports/garages under. Extra exercise walking those stairs. Elevators are something to consider.

Pictures are worth a thousand words so lets look at some past and on-going projects.

First home I ever elevated.

Twin homes elevated on piers.

The second house of the twin.

FEMA grant to elevate.

Three car garage under and foundation protected by flood vents.

Flood Vents

Elevated home with two car garage under

Former home demolished in a winter storm.

Any Questions.