Professional Land Surveyor News: FEMA Announces That eLOMA Is Temporarily Unavailable

FEMA Announces That eLOMA Is Temporarily Unavailable

Yesterday, as a registered user of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mapping Information Platform (MIP), I received an email notice that the eLOMA process is temporarily unavailable. Also, FEMA will not be issuing Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA).

Because Congress did not reauthorize funding for FEMA, along with other programs such as extension of the current highway bill and funding for extending federal unemployment benefits, the National Flood Insurance Program’s authorities expired on February 28, 2010.

What is eLOMA?

This is the FEMA description of eLOMA:

“The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now provides an interactive online determination tool for MT-1 requests called eLOMA. eLOMA is a web-based application within the Mapping Information Platform (MIP) that provides licensed land surveyors and professional engineers (Licensed Professionals) with a system to submit simple Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) requests to FEMA. This tool is designed to make a determination based on the information submitted by the Licensed Professional and allow them to generate a determination from FEMA in minutes. The initial release of eLOMA will enable Licensed Professionals to make requests for existing single residential structures or properties, provided no fill has been placed to raise the elevations of the structure or property. Approximately half of the LOMAs processed annually (about 10,000 cases) meet the requirements of eLOMA.”

The notice I received is as follows:

“Attention eLOMA Users:

eLOMA Temporarily Unavailable

The National Flood Insurance Program’s authorities expired on February 28, 2010.  It is expected that Congressional action will be taken to reauthorize the program immediately.  However, during this lapse in authorization FEMA has no formal authorities to issue Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA).  As a result, eLOMA will be temporarily unavailable.  Please check back soon or contact FEMA’s Map Information eXchange (FMIX) at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627).  Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Hopefully, Congress will soon reauthorize this program. In the meantime, please be aware that eLOMA is temporarily unavailable and FEMA will not be issuing Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) until Congress takes further action to reauthorize funding for FEMA.