FLOOD PLAIN DETERMINATIONS

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) – Denver Regional Office 303-235-4800 http://www.fema.gov/regions/viii/index.shtm	NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program 800-427-2354 www.fema.gov/nfip/	National Flood Response Center 6795 East Tennessee Avenue Denver, CO 80224 800-427-2354
Map Service Center (MSC) P.O. Box 1038 Jessup, MD 20794-1038 800-358-9616 www.msc.fema.gov	Map and Book Sales 303-202-4700	FEMA Flood Map Store (at MSL) www.store.msl.fema.gov

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). FIRMs are available through Map and Book Sales at the U.S. Federal Center south of Sixth Avenue, west of Kipling Street or through the FEMA Map Service Center (MSC)www.msc.fema.gov/

A free detail of a FIRM can be viewed on line at the FEMA Flood Store at the Map Services Center www.store.msl.fema.gov). At this page pick "Map Search" and enter the address. Selecting "View" at the Map Search Results page enables one to view and navigate around the subject FIRM. Be sure to look at the legend in the upper right hand corner of the map for an explanation of the different zones depicted. To print out the FIRM, select "Make a FIRMette" and move the pink rectangle from the upper left hand corner to cover the area of interest, select the paper size, and select an image type to download. This downloaded image can then be opened and printed.

Lending institutions use the FIRMs to make zone determinations and decide whether flood insurance is required based thereon. These institutions may or may not accept a determination made by representatives of Thornton. FEMA has established a list of companies that it considers to be qualified to make officially sanctioned determinations. This list is published on the FEMA web site at www.fema.gov/nfip/fzone1.shtm. There follows a list of companies that are located in the Denver metro area that is excerpted from the list at the web site.

Another option is to hire a surveyor to obtain elevations at the address in question and to prepare an application for a LOMA (Letter of Map Amendment) A LOMA states that the structure(s) at a particular address are not in a flood zone. It becomes part of the public record, associated with the FIRM. For more information please visit http://fema.gove/fhm/fmc_loma.shtm.

National Flood Insurance Program

What about flood insurance? - All community property owners and renters are eligible for flood insurance; not just those that live in flood prone areas. Coverage of up to $250,000 for a single family residence is available through the National Flood Insurance Program administered by FEMA. Most typical Homeowner's policies do not cover flood losses.

If FEMA flood maps show that a property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, flood insurance is required by law to obtain federally secured financing to buy, build or improve a structure on that property. An insurance agent can assist in determining the amount of coverage required. Any property-casualty insurance agent can sell a separate flood insurance policy under rules set by the Federal government, and all agentsmust charge the same rate set on a national basis.

Don't wait until a flood is on the way to purchase flood insurance - a flood policy can take 30 days to become effective.

Flood Zone Determination Companies (Colorado Area*)

CBC FLOOD SERVICES 7125 West Jefferson Avenue Lakewood, CO 80235 (800) 324-1284, FAX (303) 716-5070 (Service Area: Nationwide) website: www.cbc-companies.com	FACTUAL DATA CORP Mike Einsel, Director 5200 Hahns Peak Drive Loveland, CO 80538 (800) 276-0603 x255, FAX (800) 276-0601 (Service Area: Nationwide) E-mail: mreinsel@chi.factualdata.com website: www.factualdata.com
FLOOD CLEARING HOUSE Donald W. Curtis, Owner P.O. Box 745159 Arvada, CO 80006-5159 (303) 424-2324 or (800) 423-5663 FAX (303) 424-3396 (Service Area: Midwestern, Western States	FLOOD INSURANCE SERVICES Diane Oestman 83 North 4th Ave. PO Box 219 Brighton, CO 80601 (303) 659-5006, FAX (303) 659-8190 (Service Area: Nationwide)
NATIONAL FLOOD RESEARCH (NFR) Lloyd Noel Meador, National Sales Director P.O. Box 1528 Boulder, CO 80306-1528 (800) 730-6374, FAX (800) 216-5663 (Service Area: Nationwide) e-mail: nfr@nfrflood.com website: www.nfrflood.com

• This list is taken from the FEMA-NFIP list of Flood Zone Determination companies (142 companies) posted at the FEMA-NFIP web site www.fema.gov/nfip/fzone1.shtm. Colorado location (local phone call) was the only criterion used to derive this list. Many companies not on this list and not located in Colorado include Colorado in their service area.

For additional information about these projects, please call (720) 977-6200 or email Infrastructure.