LACDA Project
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FAQ for LACDA
What is a LOMR?
A LOMR stands for a Letter of Map Revision. It is letter from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stating a portion or entire existing Flood
Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) has been changed due to recent constructed
improvements.
What is a FIRM?
A FIRM stands for a Flood Insurance Rate Map. It is a map typically used by lending
institutions to determine if a property is subjected to flooding and therefore requiring
the borrower/property owner to purchase flood insurance as a condition of the
mortgage.
How may I obtain a copy of the FIRM for my property location?
For City residents, please contact your local City's Department of Public Works or
contact FEMA at (800) 358-9616. For unincorporated County residents, a full set of
FIRMs for the unincorporated County area is available for viewing at the Public
Works Headquarters in Alhambra, Watershed Management Division 11th Floor.
Please call (626) 458-4321 to set an appointment. Please contact FEMA for copies
of the FIRM.
What is the LACDA Project?
The Los Angeles County Drainage Area (LACDA) Project was a series of
improvements along Rio Hondo Channel, Los Angeles River, and Compton Creek.
The improvements partly consisted of elevating and reinforcing channel walls,
elevating and retrofitting bridges, and landscaping.
Why was the LACDA Project needed?
A study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concluded Rio Hondo
Channel, Los Angeles River, and Compton Creek did not provide adequate flood
protection to adjoining communities. The LACDA Project was developed to address
this hazardous condition.
What is the final LACDA LOMR?
At the completion of the LACDA Project, Public Works, on behalf of multiple Cities,
requested FEMA to revise its FIRMs to reflect the completed LACDA Project
improvements, thereby eliminating the remaining portions of Flood Zone A99. FEMA
has issued the final LACDA LOMR on January 11, 2002. Other portions of Flood
Zone AR/A99 were removed from previously issued LOMRs.
How may I obtain a copy of the final LACDA Project LOMR?
For City residents, please contact your local City's Department of Public Works.
Impacted unincorporated County residents will receive a copy via the mail. You may
also obtain a copy from the below listed addresses or by visiting the Public Works'
website at www.ladpw.org/wmd/LACDA/ or at FEMA's website at
www.fema.gov/NFIP/.
Unincorporated County residents may also obtain copies of the final LACDA LOMR
at the following locations:
Department of Public Works Headquarters Building
900 S. Fremont Avenue, Alhambra
Watershed Management Division - 11th Floor
7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday
(626) 458-4321
Department of Public Works Building and Safety Carson District Office
701 E. Carson Street, Carson
7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday
(310) 952-1766
Department of Public Works Building and Safety Firestone District Office
7807 S. Compton Avenue, Los Angeles
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
(323) 586-6541
Please note your lender is responsible for obtaining a copy of the final LACDA
Project LOMR and associated FIRM.
What is the effective date of the final LACDA Project LOMR?
January 11, 2002
Which areas does the final LACDA Project LOMR affect?
It is the area approximately bounded by Firestone Boulevard to the north, Alameda
Boulevard to the west, San Gabriel River to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the
south. A general overview map may be viewed at the Public Works' website at
www.ladpw.org/wmd/LACDA/ or at FEMA's website at www.fema.gov/NFIP/. You
may order the FIRM associated with the revision from FEMA's website.
Unincorporated County residents may view FIRMs at the above listed addresses.
If you reside within an incorporated City, please contact your local City's Department
of Public Works for complete details.
Please note your lender is responsible for obtaining a copy of the final LACDA
Project LOMR and associated FIRM.
What must I do to eliminate my flood insurance requirement on my house?
FEMA instructions were mailed to each impacted unincorporated County resident and
copies became available on January 11, 2002. Each step of the instructions must
be completed to eliminate your flood insurance requirement and to obtain a refund
from your insurance agent. If you need another copy of these instructions, you may
obtain a copy from the above listed addresses or by visiting the Public Works'
website at www.ladpw.org/wmd/LACDA/ or at FEMA's website at
www.fema.gov/NFIP/. If you reside within an incorporated City, you may also contact
your local City's Department of Public Works.
Because of your contractual mortgage agreement, your lender has "the authority to
require flood insurance, as a condition of the loan, to protect its interest as well as
the borrower's against financial losses resulting from floods, even if the building is
found to be outside of a ... flood hazard area." [Excerpt from FEMA website
www.fema.gov/NFIP/]
Will I be reimbursed for the cost of my flood insurance policy?
Eligible property owners will receive a refund of one year's flood insurance premium
for the current policy year. Your eligibility for flood insurance reimbursement will
depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to the following:
- Your property is currently located within Flood Zone A99 (LACDA overflow area).
- Your lender must/should have required the purchase of flood insurance as a
condition of your mortgage.
- Your lender has now determined flood insurance is not applicable because of the
LACDA LOMR eliminating Flood Zone A99.
- A claim on your current flood insurance policy has not been paid nor is pending.
- Your flood insurance policy is backed by the National Flood Insurance Program.
(Policies not backed by the National Flood Insurance Program have different
refund standards)
- Your property was in Flood Zones B, C, or X prior to the LACDA Project.
Property owners without lenders or those properties located in a flood hazard prior
to the identification of the LACDA overflow area will not be eligible to receive a refund
on their flood insurance policies.
How may I obtain a flood zone determination letter?
If you reside within an incorporated City, please contact your local City's Department
of Public Works. Unincorporated County residents may submit a written request to
our Department for a flood zone determination letter. Please mail requests to the
following address: County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Watershed
Management Division 11th Floor, P.O. Box 1460, Alhambra, CA 91802-1460. To
expedite your request, please include your name, daytime telephone number,
address of the property, Assessor's ID number on your property tax bill, Thomas
Guide Page, and nearest major cross streets.
Please note your lender has the final authority to determine your flood insurance
requirements regardless of a Public Works flood zone determination letter.
Why must I continue to pay flood insurance with the Flood Zone A99 removed?
In certain areas, a flood hazard existed prior to the delineation of the Flood Zone
A99. Your property may have been within this "underlying flood hazard" area prior
to the identification of the LACDA overflow area. The completion of the LACDA
Project and this LOMR addresses only the overflow Flood Zone A99 portion without
affecting the existing underlying flood hazard. Properties located within underlying
flood hazards remain subject to flood insurance requirements.
Please note your lender has the final authority to determine the flood insurance
requirements associated with your mortgage.
My property is located within an underlying flood hazard area and I currently have a
Flood Zone AR/A99 flood insurance policy coverage for my home. Will this type of
policy coverage be available in the future?
Current property owners within Flood Zone A99 had the opportunity to purchase a
flood insurance policy that is less expensive than the standard Flood Zone A policy.
A property owner can continue with the Flood Zone A99 flood insurance policy
provided continuous coverage is maintained. A lapse in flood coverage will result in
the issuance of a policy based upon the current flood zone.
When did Zone AR and the corresponding flood insurance requirements became
effective?
July 6, 1998.
Why was the Zone AR designated on my property?
At the conclusion of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study, it was determined the
Rio Hondo Channel, Los Angeles River, and Compton Creek did not have sufficient
capacity to contain the 100 year flood, thereby flooding adjacent communities. The
study delineated areas of potential flooding throughout the lower Los Angeles River
region in the event a 100 year flood were to occur.
I live miles away from the Los Angeles River. How can the flooding affect me?
In the event of a 100 year flood, a large amount of water will escape from Rio Hondo
Channel, Los Angeles River, and/or Compton Creek by overtopping and breaking its
channel walls. The flows will head toward the ocean following the natural topography
of the land. This at times may lead to areas being flooded miles away from the
channel.
When was the Zone AR redesignated as Zone A99?
September 1, 2000.
Why did we request to redesignate Zone AR to Zone A99?
Due to adequate progress of the LACDA project, and in response to requests from
impacted communities, a request was forwarded to FEMA to redesignate existing
Zone AR to Zone A99. The approved request resulted in the elimination of special
building construction regulations for new development. This request did not affect
mandatory flood insurance requirements.
Flood Zone Definitions
Flood Zone AR:
FEMA defines Zone AR as the "area of special flood hazard which
results from the decertification of a previously accredited flood
protection system which is determined to be in the process of being
restored to provide a 100-year or greater level of flood protection". In
other words, it was the flood hazard area to be mitigated by the
construction of the LACDA Project.
Flood Zone A99:
FEMA defines Zone A99 as the area "to be protected from 100-year
flood by Federal flood protection system under construction; no base
flood elevations determined". In other words, it was the flood hazard
area to be mitigated by the adequately completed LACDA Project.
Flood Zone A:
FEMA defines Zone A as a special flood hazard area inundated by the
100 year flood with no base flood elevations determined.
Flood Zone X:
Zone X replaced all Zone B and C areas as shaded Zone X and
unshaded Zone X, respectively. FEMA defines shaded Zone X as
"areas of 500 year flood; areas of 100 year flood with average depths
of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; and
areas protected by levees from 100 year flood." FEMA defines
unshaded Zone X as "areas determined to be outside 500 year
floodplain."
Flood Zone D:
FEMA defines Zone D as "areas in which flood hazards are
undetermined."
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Press Release
LACDA Project Summary