If a property owner disagrees with the lender's determination that the property is in a floodplain, what can be done?
In some cases, a lender determines that a property is in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), but the property owner disagrees. The SFHA is also known as the 100-year floodplain. It is more precisely defined as the floodplain associated with a flood that has a one percent annual chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. Therefore, the SFHA is not a flood event that happens once in a hundred years; rather, a flood event that has a one percent chance of occurring every year. Property owners in this situation have a couple of options. They may apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA), or a Letter of Map Revision - based on Fill (LOMR-F) (if fill placement is the basis of the request). In addition, property owners may apply for a Letter of Determination Review (LODR). Forms for these purposes can be found on the FEMA website.


Forms on the FEMA website

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1. Have properties along the east side of the Wisconsin River been removed from the 100 year floodplain?
2. When and how can property owners in the former 100 Year Floodplain quit paying flood insurance?
3. Will property owners in the former 100 Year floodplain receive a notice from FEMA?
4. What is the Flood Zone for Stevens Point?
5. What is a "flood zone determination" as it relates to a mortgage?
6. How do lenders find flood zone determination companies?
7. If a property owner disagrees with the lender's determination that the property is in a floodplain, what can be done?
8. How do the LOMA or LOMR-F process and the LODR processes work?
9. Are local officials liable for making flood zone determinations?