TRANSAMERICA FLOOD FILES SUIT AGAINST A LA MODE INTERFLOOD

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

When I have a question about a property possible location in Zone A, I go directly to the the authority that makes the determination--the applicable city or county office responsible. That agency can fill out and sign FEMA form 81-93 "Standard Flood Hazard Determination", which you then can include with your report. That applicable local agency is the final sayso, not a map somebody else reads, whether it is an appraiser, a loan officer or a Flood Certification company. The Flood Certification company and everyone else is looking at a map. The applicable government agency has actual field information on the elevations of the specific improvements. If that agency says it is in Zone A, then the home owner will able to get flood relief if there is a flood. If that agency says it is not in a Zone A, the home owner is out of luck, no matter what a Flood Determination company says or even if they have been paying flood insurance because a non-agency individual said they were in Zone A. And you have to know if the latest map was prepared and published before or after an area has been annexed by a city. The property could be inside the city limits of a town but new maps have not been published, the county is still responsible. Or in the case of Clifton, new levees have been constructed, FEMA maps have been prepared indicating a large area is not in Zone A anymore but the town of Clifton doesn't have the money to have the maps published (they have to pay FEMA to do so), so everyone in Clifton still has be buy flood insurance. Area of Safford was annexed years ago, city sent in the wrong city boundary map, so about a 160 acres inside the city limits is still the responsibility of Graham County, luckily for everyone it is Zone C.

 

[Caterina Platt]

Excellent info Jo Ann. Thanks! Never quite knew who the final authority was.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

It is the government entity printed on the Flood Insurance Rate Map, For example Graham County, which is also indicated at the bottom by the community panel number, for example 040032. Remember the discussions about map reference numbers on the URAR/2055, and I keep mentioning FIPS numbers if there isn't a MSA? FIPS numbers in Arizona begin with 04, just as all Arizona community panel numbers for FEMA do. So call the government entity on the FEMA map. Some cities or counties use their own form which has the same info as FEMAs. Depending on that governing agency policy, it might be done completely by fax or by a phone call only. Maricopa County, which includes the 7th largest city in the USA, faxes out over 5,000 flood certifications per month for the county and all the cities in the county because there is one specific Maricopa County Flood Control District for the entire county.

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

How is Flood Insights? On this one, we pay by the "lookup", which I'm not crazy about...but know nothing else. It appears that most of you prefer Interflood. Is that correct?

 

[Paulette in Texas]

We have no experience with other companies other than chasing after them for the last several years and getting did-el-le squat. They wanted an arm & leg for their flood maps until ala mode got into it. They didn't have any time for small companies like ours unless we wanted to mortgage our first born son...well, maybe. Nah, love him too. Now that ala mode is in the game, they want their market share and then some. Too late with too little. Love ala mode's or their spin off or whatever it is...interflood. If it for whatever reason comes up wrong...no problem. There is a map and you just move it to where your property address actually is and then download that FEMA map. What's the big deal. It is waaaaaaayyyyyyy easier than those huge file cabinets of stupid not very helpful FEMA maps. Their (interflood) maps actually show major land marks so you can accurately pin point what you are looking for. Love 'um. But them I am easy to please. Just give me quality, quantity and make it affordable. We'll be there with our tongues out if they provide good support like ala mode does 24/7. So far only had to call them for the initial setup and explanation...I'm kind of slow with computer stuff...and then wham!!!!!!!!no problem and love um. Paulette in Tx
go w...
Rotts rule and shih tzus fine.

 

[Paulette in Texas]

Dear Don & Tim: Right on. Couldn't agree more. But we put our mouth where our pocketbook is. We bought 750 and are expecting to do that again before the year is out. We love um. It has saved us umteen gazillions of time. It is wham bam, see the map, confirm locaiton, adjust if off any, and then download the FEMA map. Bap...it's is right there. And nobody could be slower with computer savy than I am. But ala mode techs walked me through it and dad gum but it was easy. What is all this blithering about zone "c" vs "x." What's the big deal. We have had huge changes in FEMA that took "x" and made it "c" and they were both NOT in the flood zone based on new FEMA maps PAPER COPIES. Sorry, but just didn't follow the reasoning, but them maybe I am too busy to get it. GO DAVE B. We are saving BIG TIME...for pennies. And no I am NOT a paid operative. But if Dave wants to...nah...with my attitude that would last less time than the contract would take to write up.
go w..
Rotts rule and shih tzu is fine too.