The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has withdrawn an insurance discount that has saved thousands of homeowners in one Florida county hundreds of millions of dollars.
This decision blindsided residents, leaving them shocked and outraged, as they were not adequately informed about the potential consequences of unsafe rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Ian in 2022, according to E&E News.
Lee County, located in southwestern Florida, is known for its vulnerability to floods and hurricanes.
With over 835,000 residents, the county has been grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, one of the most destructive natural disasters in U.S. history.
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To aid in the recovery process, FEMA provided flood insurance discounts to 125,000 property owners in Lee County. These discounts, which have been in place since 2007, have reduced the cost of each FEMA flood insurance policy by an average of $370 annually.
The revocation of FEMA’s insurance discounts shocked Lee County officials and homeowners.
According to E&E News, FEMA warned local officials about the importance of safe rebuilding efforts to protect against future disasters.
However, the agency’s decision to revoke the discounts caught many by surprise.
Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass expressed his frustration, telling E&E News, “It’s almost like revenge politics. Our citizens and taxpayers are being held hostage here and having to pay more.”
FEMA’s decision was not subject to appeal, adding to the frustration of county officials. The agency had requested nearly 600 building permits from the county, emphasizing the need for compliance with regulations to receive the insurance discounts.
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Failure to provide the requested information would lead to enforcement action, including the loss of insurance discounts, according to letters reviewed by E&E News.
Lee County Attorney Richard Wesch stated to E&E News, “The comment that this decision is final, there’s no appeal — that’s not our system of government.”
The county is still rebuilding homes with grants from FEMA and other federal agencies and payments from the federal flood insurance program.
The substantial damage requirement, which mandates elevation above local flood levels during repair or reconstruction, has been a financial burden for property owners and communities.
Lee County officials are determined to challenge FEMA’s decision and advocate for their residents. The county believes that they were not adequately notified about the potential revocation of the insurance discounts.
FEMA’s request for building permits and information was seen as an opportunity to demonstrate compliance, not a warning of potential consequences.
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In the months following Hurricane Ian, the National Flood Insurance Program paid $4.38 billion for more than 47,000 claims filed after Hurricane Ian, according to information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Ian made landfall on Sept. 28, 2022, in Southwest Florida and continued to cause flooding as it crossed the state.
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