HOW WILL THE ADVISORY ELEVATIONS COMPARE TO THE FINAL ELEVATIONS DEPICTED ON REVISED FIRMS?
In as early as 6 months from now, FEMA anticipates issuing preliminary FIRMs for many of the coastal Louisiana parishes however, these maps will not become effective until they have been through a formal appeals and adoption process. The final elevations to be depicted on revised FIRMs will be based on detailed analyses of the coastal hazards and will include the data used for the Advisory Base Flood Elevations. The revised Flood Insurance Study and FIRM may show an increase of the SWELs, Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), and BFEs over existing flood data (including the storm data analysis and engineering studies used for this Flood Recovery Guidance), and may result in the coastal high hazard area (V Zone) moving further landward. Until detailed analyses are completed, the Advisory Base Flood Elevations should be used for floodplain management purposes as it is the best information we have available at this time.
