FEMA Administrator Agrees to Senators' Request to End "Without Levee" Analysis in New Flood Maps

Press Release

U.S. Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today praised the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) decision to end its current policy of disregarding some levees and flood control structures in the process of updating Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate today informed the Senators that he has directed his agency to discontinue the practice of using "without levee" modeling in the FIRM modernization process. Early last month, the Senators sent Fugate a letter signed by 27 Senators--14 Republicans and 13 Democrats--asking that "without levee" modeling be terminated because it completely wiped some flood control structures off the map instead of more precisely determining their effectiveness.

"I appreciate Administrator Fugate's common sense decision to use modeling methods that more accurately reflect existing flood protection around the country. Recent heavy rains in Mississippi remind us that flood risks are real and that the flood map modernization process is a necessary part of protecting ourselves. Those at risk should purchase flood insurance," Cochran said. "This is just the beginning of our effort to find more practical solutions that protect communities and jobs as Congress considers a broad reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program.

"FEMA chose to do the right thing today by announcing that it will begin using methods to more accurately reflect the quality of levees in the Metro East and across the country," said Durbin. "The Agency's previous method did not reflect the reality that, while a levee may be under repair or unable to control a 100-year flood, it still could provide some level of protection. This announcement will also likely buy the Metro East area additional time to bring the levees into a good state of repair -- a process, already underway, that serves as the only long-term solution. I will continue working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to ensure that residents and businesses fully understand their flood risk and are not forced to pay unreasonably high insurance premiums."

"FEMA is finally listening," Pryor said. "I commend them for acknowledging the need for a more accurate and precise analysis of existing flood control protections before forcing consumers and businesses to pay hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for insurance."

"I am glad that FEMA was willing to work with us and take another look at the methodology so all communities receive fair treatment in determining their flood zone status," said Wicker. "It makes sense to take existing flood control structures into account. This should be a significant help to residents in areas that faced higher insurance rates."

In correspondence delivered to Senators today, Fugate announced that he has directed FEMA staff to end the use of the "without levee" standard, agreeing with the Senators that his agency has the technical ability to affordably and efficiently produce more accurate flood maps.

"In order to increase the credibility of our Flood Insurance Rate Maps in areas where levees are not accredited, I have directed my staff to replace the "without levee" modeling approach with a suite of methodologies that are technically-sound, credible and cost-effective," Fugate wrote. "The approach will better meet the needs of our citizens while providing more precise results that better reflect the flood risk in areas impacted by levees."

Fugate also indicated that FEMA "will temporarily withhold issuing final determinations for those communities whose levees do not meet accreditation requirements and would clearly benefit from this new approach."

FEMA indicated that mapping will be delayed by a matter of months in these situations as it determines the methodologies and policies it will have to put in place to replace the "without levee" approach. As it moves forward in making these determinations, FEMA has said it would engage the public to ensure the new approach is suitable for those affected.

The FEMA Administrator's decision addresses the concerns raised by the Senators, who argued that discounting the existence of uncertified levees and flood control structures ignored actual flood protection and could require property owners in those areas to purchase National Flood Insurance Program policies unnecessarily.

If FEMA determines an area has a 1 percent annual chance of flood, property owners in that area are required to purchase National Flood Insurance Program coverage to protect against such hazards if their mortgage is backed by the federal government. Communities across the country have complained that FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers have disregarded locally-funded flood control projects and repairs that may provide some level of actual protection in the development of the new flood maps.

Cochran, Durbin, Pryor and Wicker have joined forces to continue to seek out bipartisan, responsible and cost-effective solutions to the challenges facing communities protected by flood control infrastructure.

In addition to Cochran, Durbin, Pryor and Wicker, the February 3 letter to Fugate was also signed by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), David Vitter (R-La.), Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

An identical letter from the House of Representatives to Fugate on Feb. 18 was signed by 49 Members of Congress.

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