In response to requests to FEMA for consideration in delaying issuance of the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) for San Mateo County until levee repairs are complete, FEMA has indicated that the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 does not give them the authority to withhold the publication of maps, even if communities are making progress toward the restoration of a flood protection system.  In an update provided by the City of San Mateo, FEMA is currently reviewing a Zone A99 application submitted by San Mateo and has indicated that it will not issue a final Letter of Determination for the DFIRM until this issue is resolved. 

FEMA typically issues a final Letter of Determination six months before the effective date of the DFIRM.  Property owners would be able to purchase flood insurance at the low rate up until the DFIRM becomes effective.  To maximize the advantage of a year of flood insurance at the low rate, purchase of flood insurance should be made as close to the effective date of the DFIRM as possible.  Property owners should check with their insurance agents to determine the time it would take to process the purchase of flood insurance.

For example, if the effective date of the DFIRM is September 30, 2010, purchase of flood insurance in August 2010 would still be at the low rate and would provide the property owner with the maximum benefit of one year coverage at the low rate.  If flood insurance is purchased in March 2010, the one year of coverage at the low rate would expire in March 2011.  Depending on when San Mateo’s levee improvement project gets completed, the property owner who purchased flood insurance in March 2010 may need to renew their flood insurance based on the higher rate for a Zone A classification.  The property owner who purchased flood insurance in August 2010 may not need to renew their flood insurance if San Mateo completes its project before their one year coverage is up because a new DFIRM reclassifying Foster City from Zone A to Zone X would be issued once San Mateo’s levee improvements are complete. 

Once FEMA issues a final Letter of Determination to the City, property owners will then have six months to purchase flood insurance at the low rate before the DFIRM becomes effective.  The City Council recently authorized a direct mail notification to all property owners once the City has received FEMA’s final Letter of Determination.  Press releases will be issued to keep the community informed. 

Interested citizens may subscribe to the City’s free e-mail list on this subject by sending an e-mail to floodmaps-subscribe@lists.fostercity.org or may also check out the City’s website at http://www.fostercity.org/news/Update-FEMA-Flood-Maps.cfm for the latest information.