Preliminary/Post-Preliminary Processing

At the end of the Data Development.Floodplain Mapping phase, the Preliminary/Post-Preliminary Processing phase begins. During this critical period, community officials, residents, and other interested parties have an extended opportunity to review the results of the mapping project as depicted on the DFIRM and FIS report. The processing steps below correspond with the steps on the process chart.

1. One of the project team members prepares copies of the Preliminary versions of the new or revised DFIRM and FIS report materials for each affected community and distributes the copies to community officials for review and comment.
2. During the subsequent review period, community officials are encouraged to review the Preliminary version of the DFIRM and FIS report carefully and to disseminate the information in the report and map as widely as possible.
3. At the end of the review period, FEMA and project team members have meetings with community officials to formally discuss the results of the mapping project as presented on the Preliminary version of the DFIRM and in the Preliminary version of the FIS report and the impact of those results on the affected communities. In some FEMA documents, this meeting is referred to as the “Final Community Coordination Meeting” or the “Final Consultation and Coordination Officer Meeting.” In the Southeastern United States, these meetings are referred to as “Preliminary DFIRM Community Coordination meetings”, or “PDCC meetings.” The PDCC meetings for Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties were held on December 11, 12, and 13, respectively.
4. After the PDCC meetings, FEMA, project team members, and community officials host public meetings/open houses to give community residents and other interested parties an opportunity to learn more about the mapping project and the map processing procedures. In the Southeastern United States, these public forums are referred to as “Flood Risk Open Houses.” The Flood Risk Open Houses for Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties were held following the PDCC meetings.
5. After the PDCC meetings and Flood Risk Open Houses, FEMA works with community officials, other interested parties, and the project team as appropriate to address any significant issues raised.
6. If new or modified BFEs are shown on the new or revised DFIRM and FIS report, FEMA initiates a 90-day appeal period in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements by:
   • Posting a notice listing proposed or proposed modified BFEs on the FEMA Web site at http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/bfe
   • Publishing a legal notice, called a Proposed Rule, in the Federal Register
   • Sending an official notification of the proposed or proposed modified BFEs by letter to the Chief Executive Officer (e.g., mayor, chairman of the board of supervisors) and floodplain administrator of each affected community
   • Publishing legal notices in prominent local newspaper(s) twice during a 10-day period, usually 1 week apart, to announce the posting of the BFEs on the FEMA Web site and the publication of the Proposed Rule in the Federal Register

For Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties, the 90-day appeal period began on January 26, 2008, following publication of the Proposed Rule on January 16, 2008; posting of the BFE listings on the FEMA Web site; publication of the legal notice in the Sea Coast Echo, Sun Herald, and Mississippi Press on January 19 and January 26, 2008; and written notification to the community Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Floodplain Administrators (FPAs).

7. During the 90-day appeal period, community officials, or other interested parties working through community officials, may submit a formal objection to the proposed BFEs. These objections, or “appeals,” must be based on data showing that the proposed BFEs are scientifically or technically incorrect.
8. During the appeal period, community officials or other interested parties also may submit comments regarding flood hazard information other than BFEs and non-flood hazard (i.e., base map) information.
9. At the end of the 90-day appeal period, FEMA reviews all appeals and other formal comments, obtains additional required data and documentation if necessary, issues a resolution letter to the community CEO(s) and FPA(s) and non-community appellants documenting its determination, and revises the affected DFIRM panels and/or FIS report materials as necessary.
10. If appropriate, FEMA distributes copies of the ““Revised Preliminary” versions of the DFIRM panels and FIS reports to the community CEO(s) and FPA(s) and non-community appellants for review along with a letter documenting its resolution of the appeals and other comments.
11. During the subsequent review period, which usually lasts 30 days, FEMA works closely with community officials and non-community appellants as appropriate to assure that any additional comments are addressed. (Note: (FEMA, MEMA, and MDEQ did review and address all appeals and other formal comments submitted before the 90-day appeal period ended on April 25, 2008, and did issue Revised Preliminary versions of some DFIRM panels.)
12. Once the 90-day appeal period elapses, all appeals and other comments have been resolved, and all followup actions have been taken, FEMA issues a Letter of Final Determination (LFD). The LFD is sent to the CEO(s) and FPA(s) of the affected community(ies) and to non-community appellants to
    • Notify them officially that any and all appeals and comments have been addressed and that the BFEs are considered final
    • Notify them that another legal notice, called a “Final Rule,” will be published in the Federal Register
    • Initiate a 6-month adoption/compliance period
    • Announce the effective date of the DFIRM and FIS report
13. During the adoption/compliance period, the following occurs:
    • Project team members produce the final DFIRM and FIS report materials, including the DFIRM Database, and deliver them to the FEMA Map Service Center (MSC) contractor for review.
    • The MSC contractor reviews the final materials for compliance with FEMA requirements, coordinates with FEMA and the project team as appropriate, and delivers the final materials to the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) for printing.
    • GPO produces the paper copies of the DFIRM and FIS report and returns them to the MSC contractor for distribution.
    • The MSC contractor distributes the paper copies of the final DFIRM and FIS report to the community officials and other designated recipients. The MSC contractor also provides each community with a CD containing digital versions of the DFIRM, FIS report, and DFIRM Database.
14. During the adoption/compliance period, community officials also review and revise the floodplain management ordinances to ensure they are compliant with NFIP regulations and deliver them to the State NFIP Coordinator (e.g., MEMA) and the FEMA Regional Office for approval. FEMA and State staff work closely with the affected communities to ensure the appropriate regulations are adopted before the DFIRM and FIS report become effective.

On the effective date of the DFIRM and FIS report, the final version of the DFIRM and FIS report are effective for the floodplain management and flood insurance purposes of the NFIP.

Additional information on the Preliminary/Post-Preliminary Processing phase of map processing is provided in Volume 1, Section 1.5 of FEMA’s Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners; Section 1 and Appendix A of FEMA’s Document Control Procedures Manual; and in a FEMA brochure titled "Adoption of Flood Insurance Rate Maps by Participating Communities" (FEMA 495) PDF [3.22MB] Text [18.8K] ).

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