Last week, I received a letter from my mortgage lender (NOIC), indicating the FEMA maps have been redrawn, and as of 9/16/2011, my home is now in a floodplain, and must get flood insurance. I have called a surveyor to officially survey my property, and since my home is well above grade, and on a slab, I may be able to get an amendment, (LOMA)- not requiring flood insurance. The cost of the survey is $600 regardless of the outcome. I called my insurer, and apparently the flood insurance rates are set by FEMA. I called 2 other insurers, and the price was the same. Has anyone ever successfully appealed the zoning? I don't like the idea of spending 6 bills now, but it's better than the $1100/year, if it works out...
Rezoned Floodplain
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I thought the period for appealing the flood maps had passed a while ago. Is it the bank that is telling you it is still possible? Try talking to you local government zoni g department before you spend the money on a survey.
I was just notified 10/27. I called the bank, and I can appeal. Just very frustrating.
posted by jbtaurus98 on Nov 02, 2011 at 10:12:06 am #
We had no luck 15 years ago when we tried. It finally was changed after a recent upgrade of a 36 inch culvert to a 72 inch culvert which then took us out of the hafner ditch floodplain. but of course it took a major flood of the entire neighborhood to get that done. Great for us but the water has to go somewhere. Could this be a similar situation why you are now in a floodplain when previously you were not?
I swear the whole thing is a big scam.
A friend of mine used to live in Waterville, literally a stones throw from the river, and he wasn't required to have flood insurance.
He moved to Whitehouse several years ago and had to get flood insurance in spite of living no where near a stream, river or any other body of water.
It's likely how they get folks to help pay for other people living in flood plains.
Is there someplace online where we can view the redrawn FEMA maps?
The redrawing of FEMA maps now takes into account elevations and other geographical features where they didn't before.
Here is a link to the County Engineer's floodplain mapping system - you can search by address:
http://apps.co.lucas.oh.us/floodplain/ControlPage.aspx
Our house is not in the flood plain, though parts of our property are. We'd thought about getting a survey and appealing, but our mortgage lender said that because the actual structure wasn't in the 100-year zone, it wouldn't be necessary.
posted by MaggieThurber on Nov 02, 2011 at 11:29:31 am #
I was forced to buy flood insurance when I bought my house in the 100-year zone 22 years ago. We've had some wet basements, but nothing approaching flood level. BTW, flood insurance doesn't cover flooded basements. At the time I bought my home my insurance agent told me flood insurance is an expensive scam. He said it's set up so that some people outside real flood zones are forced to help cover the damage done in places that flood regularly causing millions of dollars in damage. My neighbor across the street went on the warpath a few years ago and raised all kinds of hell. There was even an article in the newspaper about her. I don't remember the specifics, but the whole neighborhood was able to drop flood insurance.
posted by shortysmom on Nov 02, 2011 at 12:05:46 pm #
FEMA needs your money to continue to pay for people who build McMansions on coastal highways so they can have a "view of the ocean". I mean who wouldn't want to build a 500 thousand dollar home in the OBX if the government was going to pay you to rebuild it every year. How many times should the taxpayer be on the hook to rebuild home in hurricane alley?
FEMA flood insurance prompts people to make stupid home placement choices, we should be rebuilding peoples homes who get knocked down or flooded every year, nature is telling you it's not a good place to build a home.
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