• Home
  • About Us
    • Our History & Accomplishments
    • Our Leader
    • LMA Gives
    • Photo Gallery
    • Library & Resources
  • Services
    • Assignment of Benefits & Insurance Litigation
    • Associations & Nonprofits
    • Business Development & Procurement
    • Education
    • Energy & Environment
    • Emergency Management
    • Flood Insurance & Resilience
    • Healthcare
    • Insurance/Financial Services
    • Legislative & Regulatory Monitoring
    • Marketing Intelligence
    • Property & Casualty Insurance
    • Public Relations
  • News / Podcasts / Library
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our History & Accomplishments
    • Our Leader
    • LMA Gives
    • Photo Gallery
    • Library & Resources
  • Services
    • Assignment of Benefits & Insurance Litigation
    • Associations & Nonprofits
    • Business Development & Procurement
    • Education
    • Energy & Environment
    • Emergency Management
    • Flood Insurance & Resilience
    • Healthcare
    • Insurance/Financial Services
    • Legislative & Regulatory Monitoring
    • Marketing Intelligence
    • Property & Casualty Insurance
    • Public Relations
  • News / Podcasts / Library
  • Contact
  • MENU

New FEMA Flood Metric

SHARE THIS

A push for greater protection

FEMA’s new Flood Insurance Rate Maps that have been premiering in South Florida over the past couple of months have a new feature for some coastal residents.  It’s a special designation that some Florida Keys residents fear will increase their insurance rates and lead to costly renovations.

It’s called a Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA) line.  It’s not formally defined in federal flood regulations or mapped as a flood zone on the maps; rather, it essentially creates a new subset within FEMA’s existing Zone AE.  According to FEMA, the line denotes how far inland a 1.5 foot or greater breaking wave can go in a 1 in 100 year flood event.

FEMA says its post-storm field visits and lab tests have consistently confirmed that wave heights as low as 1.5 feet can cause significant damage to structures that are built far enough inland that they don’t consider coastal hazards.  The new LiMWA line is meant as a wake-up call.

Schematic of Coastal Flood Zones, from FEMA

The chart at right shows FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program’s existing Zone VE, where the flood elevation includes wave heights equal to or greater than 3 feet; and Zone AE, where wave heights would be less than 3 feet.  For those new FEMA maps with a LiMWA line (and not all new coastal maps have them), Zone AE is now split at the 1.5 foot wave height mark, creating a “Coastal A Zone.”   According to FEMA, in the Coastal A Zone:

  • International Codes® require Zone VE construction standards
  • Structures should be built with piling or column foundations
  • Structural fill should not be used
  • Enclosure under elevated structures should be limited to 299 square feet or less
  • Elevation of the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor should be at or above the base flood elevation (BFE)

Communities that adopt Zone VE standards in the Coastal A Zone and reference the LiMWA area receive Community Rating System (CRS) credits, which can lower flood insurance premiums.

Reaction is predictable in the Florida Keys, which just had a series of FEMA Open House events to view the proposed new maps.  Some residents and local officials are concerned the LiMWA line could raise insurance rates and make more homes and businesses subject to costly repairs or rebuilding as nonconforming structures.

“A major downside of being moved into one of these VE zones is if your home happens to get significantly damaged in a storm, then you have to become compliant to the new building code,” Steve Russ, vice president of Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe (FIRM), told the Free Press. “Bringing homes into compliance – new windows, new roof – and you end up talking $500 a square foot for renovation. That’s tough.”

Homes within the LiMWA area may be deemed nonconforming, even if newly built, unless they were built above elevation.   Both FIRM and Monroe County have hired flood consultants to help them analyze and respond to the proposed flood maps during the next 12 month FEMA review process.

FEMA is trying to better predict risk but the cost of more accurate risk prediction and making homeowners aware of it is a pocketbook issue and sea level rise means a great deal of pocketbook issues.

LMA Newsletter of 2-24-20

SHARE THIS

Tags: FEMA, Flood Insurance Rate Maps, Florida Keys, Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA), National Flood Insurance Program

“Thank you Lisa for staying on top of, as well as advocating, for Florida residents and legislative reform. Your newsletters are very informative and enjoy reading the points of view.”  

Shawna Miller, Sr. Claims Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager
Florida Peninsula Insurance Company
Jacksonville, FL

“Just a quick note to let you know how much I have appreciated your newsletter over the years and the assistance they offer for those in the field of claims. We depend on the information more than you will ever know!”

Laurie Rasberry, Chief Claims Officer
Acorn Claims
Prosper, Texas

“Your newsletter is fabulous!  I greatly appreciate the topics you expose, so that insurance professionals like myself can keep up with the latest events that affect the public we serve and ourselves.”

Cynthia Hoehn, Independent Property & Casualty Personal Lines insurance agent
Clermont, FL

“Lisa Miller is a true champion for the insurance industry, with her regular updates! We appreciate all you do and keeping us up to date on priority issues!”

Gillian Lloyd, Account Executive
Zywave
Milwaukee, WI

“I have followed your weekly newsletter and podcasts and now have a full appreciation for what you bring to this industry.  You are an inspiring force, plain and simple.  I wanted you to know that you make a difference.  Thank you for all you do!”

Jeffrey Karam, CPCU
Bradenton, FL

“Just wanted to say that I thoroughly love your newsletter. It’s is always informative and insightful to the ins and outs of our industry.  You are an inspiration and an important asset in the insurance world.  Keep up the great work!” 

Cynthia Scott, President
University Insurance Group
Davie, FL

“Lisa this is another great newsletter, and we appreciate the time and energy you put into these informative updates – you are on top of these topics!”

Mike Graham, CEO
Smart Vent Products, Floodproofing.com, & Risk Reduction Plus
Juno Beach, FL

“Another great Newsletter on Florida industry this week.  Your service and advocacy in Florida is very important to keeping me updated and apprised of the Florida insurance laws, trends and overall environment.  Something similar is very much needed in Louisiana, too.”

Jennifer Tedesco, Esq., Claims Director
Pharos Claims Services
Orlando, FL

“Great article on Risk Rating 2.0!”

Austin Perez, Senior Policy Representative for Federal Housing, Valuation, Insurance and Commercial Issues
National Association of Realtors
Washington, D.C.

GET THE LATEST UPDATES IN YOUR INBOX FOR FREE!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

READ THE LATEST LMA NEWSLETTER ONLINE NOW

READ NOW

331 N. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 222-1041
[email protected]

*DBE certified through affiliate Lisa Miller Consultants

© Copyright 2008 - 2023
Lisa Miller Associates
All Rights Reserved
Managed by SiteBolts