| Answer 03: When a preliminary Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map establishes new or revised base (1% annual chance) flood elevations (BFEs), the community is given the opportunity to appeal the BFEs. After a 30-day review period during which the preliminary information can be publicized, the proposed BFEs are published twice in the legal advertisements of the local newspaper. The second publication takes place a week after the first, and on the day of the second publication, the 90-day appeal period begins. BFEs can be appealed if they are shown to be scientifically or technically incorrect. BFEs can also be scientifically incorrect if an assumption within the analysis is shown to be inappropriate or incorrect. To support an appeal, the BFE should be recalculated and justification for the new methodology or change in assumptions should be provided.
BFEs can also be appealed if they are technically incorrect, which means there is an error in the analysis. The error may consist of data that are incorrect, or there may be an error in the application of the analysis. Appeals must be submitted within the 90-day appeal period. They should be sent to the community's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who forwards all appeals of BFEs to: Chief, Hazard Mapping Branch
Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20472 |
