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<br />. <br /> <br /> <br />~~c <br />,4f4Q ~/v~/) <br />NFl PIC RSo;;~"'''<1oo fJ <'000 <br />~f1.-qfJOI/~:': <br />UPDATE o,,? <br /> <br />Winter 2000 <br /> <br />FEMA Elevation Certificates <br /> <br />On August 1, 1999, FEMA's new Elevation <br />Certificate form became effective, As explained <br />in the last issue of the NFIP/CRS Update: <br /> <br />All elevation certificates shot after January 1, <br />2000, must be on the new form, After that <br />date, FEMA will not accept applications for <br />flood insurance policies using the old form <br />unless it was prepared before then, <br /> <br />All communities in the Community Rating <br />System (CRS) must use the new form to <br />record the elevation of all buildings that are <br />new or substantially improved or damaged <br />after January 1, 2000, Communities may <br />accept elevation certificates on the old forms <br />only if they were completed and signed <br />before January 1, 2000. Communities and <br />surveyors are encouraged to start using the <br />form sooner. <br /> <br />In fact, many communities and surveyors have <br />been using the new form, Their general reaction <br />has been favorable, However, there has been <br />some concern that there has not been enough <br />tIme for training on the new form, Insurance <br />agents requested that FEMA defer the <br />mandatory use of the new form to allow for <br />more training. <br /> <br />Accordingly, FEMA issued a notice on <br />December 8, 1999, that the requirement that <br />insurance agents use the new ElevatIon <br />Certificate has been delayed from January 1 to <br />October 1,2000, The notice did not delay the <br />requirement that CRS communities use the new <br />form, CRS communities are still required to <br />use the new Elevation Certificate for all new <br />construction and substantial improvements <br />constructed after January 1, 2000. <br /> <br />NFIP/CRS Update <br /> <br />However, because of the December 8 notice, <br />some communities have told surveyors that the <br />new form was not mandatory until October. It is <br />understandable why there was some confusion, <br />so FEMA has instructed the ISOICRS <br />Specialists not to reduce a community's CRS <br />score for using the old form for buildings built <br />or substantially improved between January 1 <br />and February 28, 2000. Communities will lose <br />points, however, if the old form is used for new <br />construction and substantial improvements built <br />on or after March 1,2000, <br /> <br />Copies of the old Elevation Certificates are no <br />longer available from FEMA Copies of the new <br />form can be downloaded from FEMA's website <br />at www.fema.gov/mitltsdIDL_elcrt.htm. <br /> <br />New Software: FEMA is developing an <br />instructional CD on the new Elevation <br />Certificate, It will include photographs to show <br />the various places a surveyor should shoot on <br />different types of buildings, The user will also <br />have the ability to complete the form on a <br />computer. Check the FEMA website for news of <br />its release. <br /> <br />The new CD should not be confused with ISO's <br />software for keeping elevation records in <br />computer format. This is credited under Section <br />3ll.d of the CRS Coordinator's Manual. The <br />Windows-based software replaces the previous <br />DOS program that many communities have <br />been using, The new software will automatically <br />convert old data into the new format and will <br />enter new data into the new FEMA form. <br /> <br />- 1 - <br /> <br />Winter 2000 <br />