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Glossary

FIRMette

A FIRMette is a printable, zoomed-in excerpt from a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map centered on a specific property or area.

A FIRMette is a printable, letter-sized excerpt from a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. It shows the same official flood zone data as the full FIRM panel but is zoomed in to a specific area, making it easier to read and use for a single property. FIRMettes are commonly downloaded from FEMA's Map Service Center and included in LOMA applications.

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Key takeaways

A FIRMette is a zoomed-in portion of the full FEMA flood map, formatted for standard printing.
It shows the same official data as the full FIRM panel — zones, BFE lines, boundaries, and labels.
FIRMettes are commonly included in LOMA and LOMR-F applications to show the property's mapped location.
They can be generated for free from FEMA's Map Service Center website.

Why it matters

Full FIRM panels are large and difficult to read for a single property — a FIRMette solves this by focusing on one area.
LOMA applications often require a map excerpt showing the property's location relative to the flood zone boundary.
Homeowners and professionals use FIRMettes to visually confirm which flood zone applies to a property.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get a FIRMette?

FIRMettes can be generated for free from FEMA's Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov). You enter your address, and the tool produces a printable PDF excerpt of the flood map centered on your property. The process takes just a few minutes.

Is a FIRMette an official FEMA document?

Yes. A FIRMette is an official excerpt from the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map. It carries the same authority as the full FIRM panel and includes official map notation such as the community panel number, effective date, and map legend.

Do I need a FIRMette for a LOMA application?

FEMA's LOMA application typically requires a map showing the property's location and the flood zone boundaries. A FIRMette is the standard way to provide this. When you apply through the Online LOMC portal, the system may generate one for you, but having your own copy is still useful for review.

What is the difference between a FIRMette and a full FIRM panel?

A full FIRM panel covers a large geographic area and can be difficult to read for a single property. A FIRMette shows the same data but is zoomed in to your area of interest and formatted for letter-size printing. The underlying data is identical.