Illinois Flood Maps | LOMR Review

LOMR/CLOMR Application Processing

Since 2010, the Illinois State Water Survey has been reviewing and processing applications for Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) and Conditional Letters of Map Revision (CLOMR) as part of FEMA’s LOMR Review Partners Program. Illinois is one of about 10 state or local Cooperating Technical Partners participating in the program. Through this program, the Illinois State Water Survey reviews and processes LOMR and CLOMR applications within the State of Illinois in partnership with FEMA.

Resources

ISWS reviewers have developed checklists as part of the MT-2 review process. These checklists are available for applicants to QA/QC their own models using the same criteria that the MT-2 reviewers use. The checklists are not fully comprehensive and do not guarantee acceptance of an MT-2 submittal.

Initial Inventory - This checklist identifies the items required to initiate a LOMR/CLOMR review.
Hydrology Review - This document covers several hydrologic methodologies and lists the common data elements needed to complete a hydrologic review.
Hydraulic Review - This checklist is designed to identify common hydraulic modeling errors or issues. The checklist is most applicable to steady state HEC-RAS models, but can be used in some capacity for other hydraulic models.

Overview of Application Requirements for a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR)

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This 11–minute video provides a high-level overview of the application requirements for a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR). This video is ideal for engineers who are preparing to make their first LOMR application as well as experienced engineers who want to brush up on the basics.

Helpful Tips

ISWS highly recommends making your LOMR or CLOMR application submittal online through FEMA’s LOMC Portal. When the online application is made, your request is directed immediately to our review staff for processing. The Online LOMC submittal page can be accessed here: https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/onlinelomc/signin
Make sure to use the current version of the MT-2 forms and fill them out completely. The MT-2 application forms and instructions are available here: https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps/change-your-flood-zone/paper-application-forms/mt-2
Payment forms and checks should be included with the application submittal to ISWS, but checks should be payable to National Flood Insurance Program. Make sure the correct fee is submitted (see current fee schedule).
For CLOMR requests, make sure to include proof of compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Please use the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's technical assistance website for step-by-step instructions.
Make sure to include IDNR-OWR approval when applicable (see IDNR approval flowchart).

Questions:

Chris Hanstad, PE, CFM
Illinois State Water Survey
2204 Griffith Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-3372
hanstad@illinois.edu

About LOMR

A LOMR is an official revision of a current Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) accepted by FEMA, which reflects changes in mapped areas for flood zones, floodplain areas, floodways and flood elevations.

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The LOMR issued to communities by FEMA revises the effective data shown on the community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and/or Flood Insurance Study (FIS). FEMA does not re-issue FIRM panel or FIS when a LOMR is issued.

Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) Review