Attached is correspondence to Mr, Faster from Ms. Donna Cerveill, P.E., District Floodplain
Engineer,
Water Resources Division, regarding a letter that he sent to the DEQ on Sept 22, 2014.
Please contact her with any questions you rnay have. She can be reached by phone
at 517-243-6951 or via email at cervellid @michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
Roxanne Jesko, Secretary
Water Resources Division
517-284-6665
xxxEND_PAGE:deq19_b11_0896_0918_19
STATE OF MICHIGAN D E —_.
£-%
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Bz
. LANSING DISTRICT OFFICE
RICK SNYDER DAN WYANT
GOVERNOR DIRECTOR
November 5, 2014
Mr. Michael Foster
5200 Stanley Road
Columbiaville, Michigan 48421
Dear Mr. Foster:
SUBJECT: Floodplain Service No. 14-44-0003-FP,
Section 8, T8N, R9E, Oregan Township, Lapeer County,
Holloway Reservoir (Flint River), Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)
Thank you for your letter dated September 22, 2014, regarding questions about the FEMA
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the regulatory 100-year flood elevation for
Holloway Reservoir. The letter also expressed concerns with the Flood Insurance Rate Map(s)
(FIRM(s)) for Holloway Reservoir and noted mapping differences between Lapeer County and
Genesee County. This letter is intended to help answer your questions and provide direction for
you and/or the community.
Prior to mapping the floodzone areas the FEMA uses the best topographic information available
at the time of mapping, which differs by county. For Lapeer County the United States
Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps with 10 foot contour intervals were used for
elevation data. For the Genesee County maps the use of digital elevation models were
produced using light detecting and radar (LIDAR) data with a contour interval of two feet. The
same flood elevation was used on both maps, however the background elevation contours in
Lapeer County were not as detailed compared to Genesee County.
In NFIP communities, flood insurance must be purchased as a condition of obtaining a
federally insured mortgage if the structure is in a federally identified 100-year Special Flood
Hazard Area (SFHA) as identified on the FIRM. The 100-year flood elevation, or
Base Flood Elevation, of the Holloway Reservoir (Flint River) is 755 N.G.V. Datum of 1929,
however; the City of Flint who owns the dam also owns flowage rights (easements) to elevation
760 N.G.V. Datum of 1929 at this location.
With regards to map amendment options and exclusion from SFHA via the FEMA processes,
there are actually three vehicles:
1. Single-lot LOMA, with each homeowner submitting lowest adjacent grade for their own
homes prepared by a registered surveyor ;
2. Multiple-lot LOMA, with community official, registered land surveyor and/or property
owners group submitting lowest adjacent grade for homes contained as a listed set of
parcels; and
3. Letter Of Map Revision (LOMR) in which the community official, registered land surveyor
and/or property owners group submit certified topographic data for a significant
CONSTITUTION HALL *525 WEST ALLEGAN STREET *P.O. BOX 30242 * LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7742
www.michigan.gov/deg * (517) 284-6651
xxxEND_PAGE:deq19_b11_0896_0918_20
Foster Service 14-44-0003-FP
Page 2
November 3, 2014
perimeter length to show a revised delineation. For this option, FEMA will require LIDAR
or other high resolution contours over a very large length of shoreline in order to revise a
flood map panel, which will require discussing this possibility with the FEMA mapping
center. Detailed information on these options can be found at
https //wwew Sema. process
Below are the steps to follow for a Single-lot LOMA (option 1), if you believe that your structure
is not in the 100-year floodplain to possibly remove the flood insurance purchase requirements.
1. Hire a registered land surveyor to survey the lowest adjacent grade to the house and the
lowest floor including basement. The surveyor should fill out an elevation certificate
(available online at:
2. Determine the date when the structure was built. The current effective date of the
Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Oregon Township is September 19, 2007, which is
also the first map for this community.
a. If the structure was built before the date of the first published map then the
lowest adjacent existing grade needs to be above the estimated 100 year
floodplain.
b. If the structure was built after the date of the first published map and no fill was
placed, then the lowest adjacent grade needs to be above the 100 year
floodplain. The property owner also needs to get a letter from the local building
official indicating that no fill was placed before the structure was constructed.
3. If the structure is found to be outside the floodplain then the property owner should
submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), form MT-EZ (available
online at: http://www. entitled “Federal
Emergency Management Agency Application Form for Single Residential Lot of
Structure Amendments and Revisions to National Flood Insurance Program Maps”. If all
the appropriate information is sent in, the FEMA will usually respond in 4-6 weeks.
4. The property owner should take the FEMA response, if positive, to the lender and ask
that the flood insurance purchase requirements be waived.
The LOMA officially amends the FIRM and removes the federally required flood insurance
purchase requirement. However, lenders still have the option of requiring the purchase of flood
insurance to protect their investment. The property owner may want to contact the lender to see
if they will accept a LOMA. If the lender will not accept a LOMA and waive the flood insurance
purchase requirements then the option is to switch mortgage lenders.
If the lender accepts the LOMA and does not require the purchase of flood insurance, the
current year's flood insurance premium can be refunded (provided no claims have been paid).
If the flood insurance waiver from the lender is taken to the insurance agent, the agent will be
able to process a refund.
It is important to note that the issuance of a LOMA does not mean the risk of flooding has been
eliminated. In fact, approximately 30 percent of all flood insurance claims occur in areas
xxxEND_PAGE:deq19_b11_0896_0918_21
Foster Service 14-44-0003-FP
Page 3
November 3, 2014
designated as moderate or minimal flood risk. For more information about the effects of
flooding and flood insurance, visit www.floadsmart.aoy.
You are advised to keep a copy of the LOMA to avoid flood insurance purchase requirements
should the house be refinanced or sold sometime in the future.
If you have any questions on the LOMA process, please contact the FEMA at their toll-free
number, 1-877-336-2627. If you have any other questions, of if you need further assistance,
please contact me.
Sincerely,
Donna Cervelli, P.E.
District Floodplain Engineer
Water Resources Division
517-243-6951
Enclosures
cc: Representative Kevin Daley,
[email protected]
Supervisor Eldon R Card, Oregon Township, superviser@ areqontownship.arg
Mr. H Paul Spencer, Oregon Township Clerk, clerk @oregentewnship.org
Mr. Les Thomas, DEQ-WRD, NFIP Coordinator
xxxEND_PAGE:deq19_b11_0896_0918_22
ZONE X —_——
83° 30) 13360000 FT 13365000 FT MAP SCALE 1” = 2000
2000 4000
METERS
1200
PANEL 02500
FIRM
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP
GENESEE COUNTY,
MICHIGAN
{ALL JURISDICTIONS)
PANEL 250 OF 475
(SEB MAP INDEX FOR FIRM PANEL LAYOUT)
CONTAINS:
Wry NUMBER PANEL SUFFIX
DAVISON, TOWNSHIP OF eed 0280 c
RICHPELD, TOWNSHIP OF wos ws. °
Notice to User: The Map Number shown below should be used
wher placing map omers, the Community Number showa
above should ke used on insurance applications for the subject
comraunity.
MAP NUMBER
26049002500
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 25, 2009
Federal Emergency Management Agency
JOINS PANEL. 0210
This is an official copy of a portion of the above referenced flood map. It
was extracted using F-MIT On-Line. This map does not reflect changes
r amendments which may have been made subsequent to the date on the
block. For the latest product information about National Flood Insurance
rogram flood maps check the FEMA Flood Map Store at www.msc.fema.gov
xxxEND_PAGE:deq19_b11_0896_0918_23