Elevation Certificates ? Creating a FIRMette

A FIRMette is a full-scale section of a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that you create yourself on line by selecting the desired area from an image of a Flood Insurance Rate Map. The FIRMette also includes the map title block, north arrow, and scale bar.

There is no charge for making a FIRMette. And because a FIRMette is a full-scale section of an official FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map, it can be used in all aspects of the NFIP, including floodplain management, flood insurance, and enforcement of mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements.

In addition, since it is based on the latest FIRMs available, you don’t run the risk of using a map that is possibly out of date. If you think the process seems complicated, read on. This tutorial will walk you through the process.

First you must obtain the proper flood map. Since we are primarily interested in working with Elevation Certificates, and the property address is always a known quantity, do the search by address. Begin by going to the FEMA website page for “Search by Address”

In the upper right corner, enter the address of the property where you are preparing the Elevation Certificate. I will enter a random address 2400 Beacon Street, Port Charlotte, FL 33852. Then click “Product Search” This brings up a page listing the FEMA map which covers the entered address.

Click the bullet with the magnifying glass under “View”, which loads the entire FIRM map, along with a dialog box.

On the left, click “Make a FIRMette. This generate a larger scale of the FIRM with a rose colored box at the upper left corner.

Drag the box so it is centered over your desired location. The box is now green.

Then, in the dialog area on the left,

choose the page size (default is 81/2 x 11). Click “Scale and North Arrow”, then drag the box on the right over the location of the scale nearby.(See Below)

Then click “Title Block”.(See Exhibit before Last) No action is required. Finally under “Create FIRMETTE”, you can choose to create either a pdf or a .tif file. We will click “pdf”. The FIRMette is instantly created.

Click save your FIRMette. Adobe Acrobat loads, and the FIRMette is loaded. From here you can print and also save a copy for your files. The resulting pdf from this tutorial can be seen here.