If the determination companies cannot reach agreement, FEMA has two processes that will help. These exhibits may have to be specifically requested but can assist with getting all parties on the same page. Most companies will also provide graphics called exhibits to support their findings. The dispute process verifies every step of the determination process to ensure the correct location is being accurately determined. The dispute process may take a few days but it should resolve most discrepancies and allow your closing or flood insurance policy placement to continue with minimal interruption. Don’t just pick the one you like and dispute the rest, save time by having them all rechecked from the start. If a discrepancy is found, you should insist that every party that obtained a SFHD dispute it with their determination company. Because of this, determination companies all have a formal dispute process to resolve such discrepancies. However, there is more than one method that determination companies use to arrive at these determinations. These discrepancies can delay closing or the placement of a flood insurance policy.Įvery SFHD is completed using the same data source, the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). With two or more SFHDs being produced for a single location, disagreements in results can arise. Most lenders will contact a Flood Zone Determination company to obtain a Standard Flood Hazard Determination (SFHD) as part of their closing process and in most cases a property insurance agent will make the same request from the same or a different Flood Zone Determination company.

Fema flood zone dispute