Flood Insurance Study (FIS) Data Requests

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has identified seven categories into which requests

for Flood Insurance Study (FIS) backup (i.e., technical and administrative support) are separated. These

categories and their associated fees are below: 

Requests for Flood Insurance Backup 

Data Fee

1. Portable Document Format (PDF) or

Diskettes of hydrologic and hydraulic

backup data for current or historical

FISs

An initial, non-refundable $300, plus a $93 per-case 

surcharge fee to recover the cost of library maintenance and 

archiving. For larger requests that require more than 4 hours 

of research, additional hours will be charged at $40 per hour. 

2. PDF or Mylar copies of topographic

mapping developed during FIS process

An initial, non-refundable $300, plus a $93 per-case 

surcharge fee to recover the cost of library maintenance and 

archiving. For larger requests that require more than 4 hours 

of research, additional hours will be charged at $40 per hour. 

3. PDF of survey notes developed during

FIS process

An initial, non-refundable $300, plus a $93 per-case 

surcharge fee to recover the cost of library maintenance and 

archiving. For larger requests that require more than 4 hours 

of research, additional hours will be charged at $40 per hour. 

4. PDF of individual Letters of Map

Change (LOMCs)

$40 for first letter; $10 for each additional letter in the same 

request. Requesters will be notified about availability of the 

data and the fees associated with the requested data.

5. PDF of preliminary map panels $35 for first panel; $2 for each additional panel in the same 

request. Requesters will be notified about availability of the 

data and the fees associated with the requested data.

6. DVDs of Digital Line Graph files,

FIRM files or Digital LOMR

attachment files

$150 per county or Digital LOMR attachment shape file. 

Requesters will be notified about availability of the data and 

the fees associated with the requested data.

7. Computer diskettes and user manuals

for FEMA computer programs

$25 per copy. Requesters will be notified about availability of 

the data and the fees associated with the requested data.

As shown in the table above, for Categories 1-3, an initial non-refundable fee of $300 is required to initiate 

the request and required before the requested data will be provided. This non-refundable fee is required, 

even if no data is available after research. If the data requested are available and the request is not canceled, 

the final fee is calculated as a sum of the standard per-product charge plus a per-case surcharge of $93, to 

help recover library maintenance and archiving costs. The total costs of processing requests in Categories 1- 

3 will vary based on the complexity of the research involved in retrieving the data and the volume and 

medium of the data to be reproduced and distributed. The initial flat fee will be applied against the total 

costs to process the request, and FEMA will invoice the requester for the balance plus the per-case 

surcharge before the data are provided. No data will be provided to a requester until all required fees have 

been paid. 

For Categories 4- 7, there is no initial fee to initiate a request for data. Requesters will be notified about the 

availability of, and the fees associated with, the requested data. 

1 
Payment must be received before services and data are rendered. Fee payments for non-exempt requests 

must be made in advance of services being rendered. These payments shall be made in the form of a check, 

money order, or by credit card payment. Checks and money orders must be made payable, in U.S. funds, to 

the National Flood Insurance Program.

FEMA will deposit all fees collected to the National Flood Insurance Fund, which is the source of funding 

for providing these services.

Requestors must submit the user fees listed above with requests for FIS technical and administrative 

support data. We will charge all entities except the following for requests for FIS technical and

administrative support data:

• Private architectural-engineering firms under contract to FEMA to perform or evaluate studies and

restudies

• Federal agencies involved in performing studies and restudies for FEMA (i.e., U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Tennessee Valley

Authority)

• Communities that have supplied the Digital Line Graph base or other digital community GIS data

to FEMA and request the Digital Line Graph data or FIRM files (Category 6)

• Communities that request data during the statutory 90-day appeal period for an initial or revised

FIS for that community

• Mapped participating communities that request data at any time other than during the statutory 90-

day appeal period, provided the data are for use by the community and not a third-party user

• State NFIP Coordinators, provided that the data that they request are for use by the State NFIP

Coordinators and not for use by a third-party user

A full detailing of all flood map-related fees is available on the following webpage:

https://www.fema.gov/forms-documents-and-software/flood-map-related-fees

Initiating a Request

To initiate your request, please complete pages 4 and 5 of this form.

The average request takes 2 to 3 weeks to fill.

You will be contacted after we have determined whether the requested data are available and the final fee is 

assessed.

Payments can be made by Checks, Money Order or Credit Card. Checks or money orders should be made 

payable to:

NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM

If paying by credit card, please complete the Payment Information Form and mail it or or e-mail it with 

your request. 

Data will be released upon receipt of final payment. 

2 
Please include your check, if applicable, with your written request and mail to:

FEMA Engineering Library 3601 Eisenhower Ave. Suite 500

Alexandria, Virginia 22304-6426

E-mail: FEMA-EngineeringLibrary@fema.dhs.gov

Please note that effective FIRMs, FHBMs, FIS reports, FIRM and National Flood Hazard Layer 

geodatabases (NFHL), and Letters of Map Change (LOMC) with determination dates after July 1997 are 

available from the MSC: http://msc.fema.gov (phone: 877- FEMA-MAP).

3 
Flood Insurance Study (FIS) Data Request

Please provide the following information as applicable for the area where you require data:

• Complete community name (including county and state): 

• Community identification number, if known: 

• Name(s) of flooding source(s) and specific location(s) for which data are needed (Attach FIRM

panel showing subject area if available): 

• Specific data needed (see list of available categories on page 1): 

• Effective date of FIRM for which data are requested (enclose an annotated copy of FIRM/FBFM,

if available, identifying area of interest): 

4 
 

* 

• Contact person's name: 

• Firm Name: 

• Email Address: 

• Daytime Phone/fax number

Phone #:

Fax #:

• Mailing Address: 

• I am employed by (choose one):

5 

Private Firm State Agency Federal Agency Local Gov’t FEMA Study Contractor* Other

Please provide contract number