This course is a 3 and a 1/2 day (Wednesday through Friday in class with a Saturday exam) certification program for licensed surveyors wishing to become Certified Floodplain Surveyor (CFS). Participants must pass a comprehensive exam on Saturday (1/2 day) to receive certification.  Lunch is included Wednesday - Friday.

Course and exam will both take place at the NCSS Office.

Instructors: Gary Thompson & Steve Garrett

Bring a calculator for class and the final exam.

The program will cover the following...

• National Flood Insurance Program/FIRM Maps: Provides training in the CFS certification program. Topics include a regulatory overview, definitions, flood zone designations, flood study profiles, FIRM flood maps, flood map revision overview, LOMA and LOMR, lowest adjacent grade and lowest floor.
• NFIP Regulations and Elevation Certificates: Examines Federal LOMA, LOMR and LOMR-F regulations, other NFIP regulations and citations. Further elaboration of NFIP topics will be provided. Elevation certificates will also be discussed.
• Letter of Map Change Overview: Introduces the concepts needed to write Letters of Map Amendment and Letters of Map Revision.
• Letters of Map Change Processing: We will discuss components of LOMAs and LOMRs, including fill considerations and the MT-1 form, survey data requirements, and the CFS’s obligations in obtaining the Letter of Map Correction. We will include hands-on exercises and an exam review game on Friday afternoon.

A certificate with the specific number of PDHs awarded will be emailed upon completion of the class. Saturday’s exam does not qualify for PDHs.

Hotel Information:

We have a contract/preferred rate with: 

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites at 11400 Common Oaks Drive, Wake Forest, NC.  Rate is $99.00/night Queen Suite or $112.00/night for King Suite. Price doesn’t include taxes/fees. Please call 919.570.5550 & mention the NC Society of Surveyors to book your rooms. 
  
• Fairfield Inn and Suites By Marriott at  12051 Retail Drive, Wake Forest, NC. Please call 919.435.7056 & mention the NC Society of Surveyors. Standard room $119.00/night and Suites is $134.00/night. Price doesn’t include taxes/fees. Or you can click here to book your hotel online. 
  

Instructors

Gary W. Thompson, PLS - Mr. Gary W. Thompson is the Deputy Risk Management Chief, North Carolina Emergency Management/Risk Management and Chief of the North Carolina Geodetic Survey/Risk Management/NC Emergency Management. He has held a professional license as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) in North Carolina since 1980.  He has served as president of both the North Carolina Society of Surveyors (NCSS) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS).  Gary is an emeritus member of the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCBEES), and a commission member of  the ABET Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission.

Steve Garrett, CFM - Steve Garrett has worked for North Carolina Emergency Management for over 20 years. He is currently serving as the State NFIP Coordinator. Previously, Steve served as a planner for the Risk Management Section of North Carolina Emergency Management; providing outreach and technical assistance for Floodplain Management and the Floodplain Mapping Program, overseeing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NCFMP and NCDOT, and managing the LOMR Review Partners Program. Prior to working with Risk Management, he was a grant project manager and environmental specialist with the Hazard Mitigation Section. Steve earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and a Master of Science in Natural Resources Management from North Carolina State University.