Letter of Map Change Revalidation and Re-Issuance Process
When a new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) becomes effective, it automatically supersedes previously issued Letters of Map Change (LOMCs), including Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs) and Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs), that have been issued for property(ies) on the revised FIRM panels. LOMCs are documents issued by FEMA that revise or amend the flood hazard information shown on the FIRM without requiring the FIRM to be physically revised and republished. In recognizing that some LOMCs may still be valid even though the flood hazard information on the FIRM has been revised, FEMA has an automatic process for revalidating LOMCs.
This automatic process to revalidate LOMCs includes a detailed comparison of the Base (1% annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) shown on FEMA's new FIRM and the lowest adjacent grade or lowest lot elevation of previously issued LOMCs. Those structures or lots that are above the new BFE or are located in areas of the community that are not affected by updated flood hazard information are revalidated through a formal determination letter that is issued to community officials immediately preceding or following the issuance of the new FIRM. The revalidation letter is also mailed to the community's map repository to be kept on file and is included in FEMA's LOMC Subscription publication.
If you have questions about revalidation letters, you may call the FEMA Map Assistance Center toll free at 1-877 FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627). To obtain a copy of the revalidation letter, you may contact the map repository for the community in which the property is located or send a written request to the address listed below. A fee will be charged for all letters obtained.
LOMCs not Included in the Revalidation
Letter
LOMCs that have been issued for multiple
lots or structures where the determination
for one or more of the lots or structures have
changed cannot be revalidated through the administrative
process described above. Further, on occasion,
LOMCs are inadvertently left out of the revalidation
process. To request that FEMA review a LOMC
that has not been included in the revalidation
letter, please submit the following:
- A letter requesting the re-issuance. (Please provide the case number of the LOMA/LOMR-F to be re-issued); and
- A copy of the LOMA/LOMR-F to be re-issued, if available.
FEMA will then review the case file and issue a new letter reflecting its determination.
All requests should be sent to the MOD team for processing at the address listed below:
FEMA Depot
3601 Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22304-6425
Phone: 703-960-8800
To expedite processing, please address your request to the attention of the following processing specialists:
ATTENTION: LOMA DEPOT (Use for Letters of Map Revision-Based on Fill, Letters of Map Amendment, Conditional Letters of Map Revision-Based on Fill, and Conditional Letters of Map Amendment)
ATTENTION: LOMR DEPOT (Use for Letters of Map Revision and Conditional Letters of Map Revision)
ATTENTION: FEMA PROJECT LIBRARY (Use for External Data Requests)
You also have the option of faxing your request to one of the following numbers: For LOMCs: 703-317-6532 For External Data Requests: 703-751-7391.
Need additional help? If you have any questions about your type of request or Map Modernization, please contact our Map Assistance Center at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or e-mail a Map Specialist.
