FEMA elevation certificate section E?

[pgoldston]

My local community doesn't have an established base flood elevation, confirmed through local and state agencies. I have read over the FEMA directions on filling out a elevation certificate and it states that if in zone A with no bfe the land owner can complete the elevation cert.

Has anyone completed one? Trying to get answers on measurements.
Thanks

 

[fiataccompli]

I don’t know what E is off the top of my head, but I have a colleague who manages elevation certificates for my department and I can look at the form & ask him on Monday. We do not have any approximate zones and we require a surveyor to fill them out , so this isn’t ringing a bell.

 

[kd3pc]

would be very difficult to gather the data needed to fill it out, even with the right equipment. Surveyor has to go/get back to a known datum point to work from.

Then you will need a flood insurance agent to forward it to the right section of FEMA, photos will have to be a certain age and of certain things.

Mine was a nightmare...and expensive.

 

[denis4x4]

County planning department had the info that satisfied FEMA.

 

[bassbone52]

If you are only completing Section E, then a known vertical datum is not required, only the relative differences in elevation between floors and highest and lowest adjacent grades. You would still need to acquire and know how to use a level and level rod to determine those differences. However, if you are completing an elevation certificate to support a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) request, then Section C must be completed which requires a certification by a licensed individual.

 

[kgp50]

Had a very similar situation to OP's a couple of years ago when we wanted to build on property adjacent to local river. Property was shown to be in Zone A Flood Zone but no Base Flood Elevation. I can't recall the technical FEMA process designation, but we were required to get a survey demonstrating property elevations relative to adjoining FP area in order to obtain a calculated BFE for submission to FEMA. Finding a qualified surveyor was the easy part; finding a qualified engineer to do the calculations for a reasonable fee was just crazy. Estimated costs of the work required by the engineer ranged from $5,000 to $20,000+ among 3 estimates! Finally found that the regional US Army Corps of Engineers office provided the calculation service for about $300 and we used them, of course. Although it was kind of a Wild West process, all turned out well and our building permit was issued after property was determined to be well above BFE.

 

[pgoldston]

So based off the FEMA regulation I should be able to complete a section my self and submit. To get a surveyor here its 1200 bucks.

When I'm looking at the form is ask for hag/lag. Highest and lowest adjacent grade. In other areas of the form when completed by a surveyor, it ask for elevation. I'm trying to confirm for the section e if I need to just put the difference in feet from my slab to the highest to lowest places on my property, ie slab to lowest is about 6 ft, slab to highest point is only 6 inches? My slab is on the highest point on the property, I'm literally in the flood zone by 3 feet. My pond is not in a flood zone but the house is And the pond was here before the house.

Thanks for the help

 

[KEH]

My local library has government survey maps, I assume Corps of Engineers. The maps have water features and contour lines and may be helpful. I can read contour maps, courtesy of a college geography class and later the US Army, but its been awhile and it would be better if you looked up instructions on your own. I wouldn't want to be responsible for confusing the bureaucrats. However, for your purposes the contour interval is important and the map shows that.Good luck.



KEH

 

[kgp50]

PGOLDSTON, I'd suggest obtaining the clarification you seek through your local (usually county official in my part of the world) flood plain manager / administrator.

 

[kbs2244]

$1,200 isn't that high for a surveyor.

You might be able to spread it over a few neighbors.
My son got 4 of his to go in with him.
The gov. maps showed him in the flood zone but he was dry in two "100 year" high waters.

The canceling of the flood insurance should pay for it in a year.

 

[mcbane]

Before spending $1200 try calling your county engineering office. They may give you most of the documentation you require under the seal of the county surveyor.

Every county is different but the county I used to work for did that sort of thing for free.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mizzoutrover]

25 years ago I worked for a civil engineering company and did many FEMA elevation certificates, I would encourage you to use professional engineer firm to complete the certificate not a registered land surveyor, they will understand the FEMA requirements and can advise you on your best course of action. I would expect the price to be less than $1000 for the elevation information. No location on your profile so hard for anyone to give specific answers. If you are in a growing area and near water you might be better off getting a professional to determine the elevation now. Local engineers will know more than anyone one here about the process in your location.

 

[kd3pc]

Also be aware that FEMA changes the base maps every now and then, so that if you are close today, you can expect to be "IN" down the road some day.

 

[PoorOwner]

My surveyor did the elevation certificate and the data was in my favor, he wanted a few hundred dollars to apply for the map amendment. He talked to the city and FEMA people and did his research. Then I send new result to the mortgage and they dropped the flood insurance which is about $800 a year.

FEMA maps are outdated in my area and did not include any modifications done by the city 20 years ago.

I am skeptical there is much you can DIY to get something out of it.

 

[bassbone52]

25 years ago I worked for a civil engineering company and did many FEMA elevation certificates, I would encourage you to use professional engineer firm to complete the certificate not a registered land surveyor, they will understand the FEMA requirements and can advise you on your best course of action. I would expect the price to be less than $1000 for the elevation information. No location on your profile so hard for anyone to give specific answers. If you are in a growing area and near water you might be better off getting a professional to determine the elevation now. Local engineers will know more than anyone one here about the process in your location.

In our civil engineering/land surveying office, the survey department did all of the elevation certificates since it was the survey crews who were actually doing the field work. We as surveyors understood the requirements better than the engineering department and we were well versed in the LOMA procedures and the FEMA requirements. Of course this may vary from office to office, not trying to start an argument here.

 

[mizzoutrover]

No worries, I ran the survey crews for the company I worked for, I’m sure it varies by area,. I was thinking more of civil engineering companies vs surveying companies, in my experience the engineering companies are involved in flood plains, stormwater design and studies and dealing with government requirements etc. The “surveying companies” I was familiar with did elevation certificates however they were not as knowledgeable on the stormwater management and flood plain issues. The civil engineering firms without professional land surveyors also often charged less for the elevation certificates. A professional engineer can stamp elevation certificates. Again, depending on the area and local economy I’m sure that all varies. A couple of calls for quotes is always good advice.