FEMA is currently modernizing and updating their inventory of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). FIRMs are designed to show designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) throughout the U.S and they are used in determining whether property owners with federally-backed loans are required to have flood insurance. While many of these maps are outdated, there have…
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, many homeowners are faced with substantial property damage and wondering just how they will recover. The truth of the matter is that less than a fifth of U.S. homeowners have flood insurance. With federally-backed loans for properties located within flood plains, owners are required to have flood insurance but…
At Massachusetts Survey Consultants, we have seen a dramatic increase in requests for Elevation Certificates in Massachusetts. In fact, it’s a topic that has caught quite a bit of attention lately. Recently, the topic was discussed in The Boston Globe in an article titled “Flood maps raising cost of insurance”. The article described how many…