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When would these go into effect? I swear it looks like our potential place is going from a VE to AE...
John, It looks that way to me too. I'd check with your insurance agent asap. It might change some of the necessary building requirements (though I realize it might be too late for your house).
John, It looks that way to me too. I'd check with your insurance agent asap. It might change some of the necessary building requirements (though I realize it might be too late for your house).
Yeah, too late for the build (piers are already up and framing is going on now). We're building to VE reqs, I would assume AE are much less stringent.
johnst --
The VE is a Velocity Zone, so even if you're not going to be in that Zone.....it's probably a good idea to build to those Requirements. The extra roof strapping and bracing may get you a discount on your "Wind & Haii" coverage, so be sure and mention to your agent.
johnst --
The VE is a Velocity Zone, so even if you're not going to be in that Zone.....it's probably a good idea to build to those Requirements. The extra roof strapping and bracing may get you a discount on your "Wind & Haii" coverage, so be sure and mention to your agent.
Yes, VE is Velocity Zone but I believe that refers to expected wave action. In a VE zone, FEMA is assuming there could be wave action that would potentially take out the foundation to a house.
It could. Was any part of your house in the AE zone before? The definitive answer will come from your insurance agent but it's definitely a question to ask.
The actual house, no. With the existing maps the space occupied by the house is AE but the house is not since it's on a crawlspace. This would push the whole structure out of it, except possibly for where I want to add a pool.
Makes sense though, the place didn't flood for Gracie, Hugo or the big rains last fall. I'm going to recompete car and home insurance anyway once the new maps are in effect. It'll be fun. edit: Unless the new maps go into effect in 2018. Forget waiting for that.
The actual house, no. With the existing maps the space occupied by the house is AE but the house is not since it's on a crawlspace. This would push the whole structure out of it, except possibly for where I want to add a pool.
Makes sense though, the place didn't flood for Gracie, Hugo or the big rains last fall. I'm going to recompete car and home insurance anyway once the new maps are in effect. It'll be fun. edit: Unless the new maps go into effect in 2018. Forget waiting for that.
As I understand it, the elevation of the house has no bearing on whether the property is in a flood zone. If it's designated A or V, it's in a flood zone. The E stands for "elevation" and that refers to the "Base Flood Elevation" which is a height determined by some esoteric FEMA process. So typically you'll have the AE followed by a number which refers to the BFE. In the case of my own house, it's AE11. However, since I'm up on a bluff and my house is on a crawlspace, the lowest finished floor is still above the BFE so while the bank requires me to have flood insurance, it costs less than $300 per year.
From what you've said, I'm guessing that your house is currently in an AE zone and that the finished floor elevation is above the BFE so that flood insurance was probably relatively inexpensive but still required by the mortgage co. With the new maps, if your property is no longer in an AE zone, then you would be able to cancel the flood insurance altogether as far as the mortgage company is concerned.
In short, the flood zone designation refers to the lot regardless of any structures on it. Hope that makes sense...
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