A house in Zone AE has a lowest floor elevation of 487 ft; the BFE is 485 ft (same datum). What follows directly?
Correct Answer
B) The lowest floor is 2 ft above BFE; it is still in the SFHA
487 - 485 = 2 ft above BFE. Elevation above BFE can lower NFIP premiums and may meet local freeboard rules, but the building remains in the mapped SFHA, so the mandatory purchase requirement for federally backed loans still applies, unless FEMA removes it from the SFHA by a LOMA or LOMR-F.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option B is correct because 487 ft - 485 ft = 2 ft, so the lowest floor is 2 feet above BFE. The building is still in Zone AE, which is part of the mapped SFHA. Elevation can lower NFIP premiums, but the mandatory purchase requirement for federally backed loans still applies unless FEMA removes the building from the SFHA by a LOMA or LOMR-F.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: The house is outside the SFHA because its floor is above BFE
Option A is wrong because it says the house is outside the SFHA because its floor is above BFE. SFHA status follows the flood map, and the house remains in Zone AE unless FEMA issues a map change.
Option C: The house violates floodplain rules because it is in Zone AE
Option C is wrong because it says the house violates floodplain rules just by being in Zone AE. Building in an SFHA is permitted when it meets the applicable requirements, and a floor 2 feet above BFE does not show a violation.
Option D: Federal flood insurance is unavailable at this elevation
Option D is wrong because it says federal flood insurance is unavailable at this elevation. Elevation above BFE can lower NFIP premiums; it does not make coverage unavailable.
Above BFE, still in zone
Being higher than the flood line helps the premium, but only FEMA can move you off the map.
How to use: Use this to avoid confusing elevation above BFE with removal from the SFHA.
Exam Tip
Do the elevation subtraction, then remember that map status changes only through a FEMA determination.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- -Assuming a floor above BFE takes the house out of the SFHA
- -Believing a house in Zone AE violates floodplain rules just by its location
- -Thinking flood insurance is unavailable for elevated homes
Concept Deep Dive
Analysis
This question tests what follows from comparing a lowest floor elevation with the base flood elevation. The arithmetic shows the floor is 2 feet above BFE. Elevation above BFE does not by itself remove a building from the mapped SFHA; that takes a FEMA map change such as a LOMA or LOMR-F.
Background Knowledge
Zone AE is a Special Flood Hazard Area with a determined base flood elevation. A building's lowest floor elevation relative to BFE affects flood insurance rating. Removal from the SFHA requires a FEMA determination such as a Letter of Map Amendment or Letter of Map Revision based on Fill.
Real-World Application
An appraiser reviews an elevation certificate showing a home's lowest floor 2 feet above BFE in Zone AE. The appraiser reports the property as in the SFHA and notes the elevation, while the lender handles flood insurance requirements.
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