'A major situation': CLB, experts discuss flood insurance protection program participation
While no action was taken on the county's participation, several areas of concern by the commissioners were addressed. CLB will discuss the matter again after they have more information regarding the number of homes that suffered substantial damage.
CLB Chairman
"It is a major situation that the county is facing," Property Assessor
County's NFIP participation
According to
"I don't want to push for a decision tonight, but we are at a standstill until a decision is made," Reed said.
She said she found that homes in the floodplain determined to have substantial damage, which is 50% or more, must be rebuilt according to the NFIP ordinance approved by CLB in 2012. Many people have started rebuilding and some have already finished their homes.
'I don't have the heart to do that'
Reed said she was told by the
"I don't have the heart to do that," Reed said. She said she has cried regarding the situation and that morally she doesn't feel it is right to stop construction for people who have lost so much already.
Explaining a worst case scenario, Reed used a brick home fronting
She further explained if the county pulls out of the NFIP there are many potential ramifications. She said it would be difficult - if not impossible - for people to get flood insurance coverage for their properties. Those with mortgages would see lenders placing forced flood insurance coverage on their properties, which is "astronomically higher" she said. Those forced premiums could lead to payments higher than people can afford, which in turn, could lead to foreclosures. Property values could also plummet in the flood zones because of the difficulty acquiring flood insurance coverage.
Addendums added after the flood have made the surveying process more complex for surveyors.
As an example, it was pointed out
"Rebuilding in the floodway is even stickier," Reed said. "Two properties in the floodway have placed mobile homes.
Construction per
Responding to a question about how many homes in the floodplain were not constructed per the guidelines, Reed said when the proper process is followed, the property owner is supposed to get a development permit. She said no 911 address is issued until the development permit has been acquired. She said for properties in the floodplain an elevation permit is necessary while those in the floodway should get an engineering analysis.
According to Reed, the engineering analysis or elevation permit is brought in to the property assessor's office where they then get a permit to take to the utilities.
She said she wasn't as concerned about newer homes as she was about the older homes built prior to the 2012 ordinance.
The damage assessments have not been completed yet, but Reed said per the
Holley pointed out no residences were grandfathered in, and those built before the ordinance was enacted were considered non-conforming. He has been working with the 10 counties in
City and county participation
Holley explained counties and cities are different and municipalities as well as counties participate in NFIP. He said both the
When asked what happens if a county is not in the NFIP and it experiences flooding, Holley said "I'm not saying they won't receive disaster relief assistance, but it would be minimal. What is offered now isn't enough."
'1,000-year flood'
"The goal is to prevent a loss of property and a loss of life," Holley said. "Everything on that flood map is based on a 100-year flood. This is probably a 1,000-year flood - they would've flooded (despite being built per the regulations)."
A county has to be in good standing with the NFIP to maintain participation, Holley added. He said flood insurance from a private insurer is much higher than coverage through the NFIP.
A land grab?
Commissioner
Holley said the NFIP looks at elevation in the flood zones and a basement in the floodplain was a problem. Ford said his residence was built in 1958. He said statistically a flood of this magnitude wouldn't happen again, and he asked if he would have to do something different to his home because of the NFIP ordinance.
Holley said the changes are necessary when there is substantial damage, which is more than 50%.
"If we stay in this (NFIP) they can't afford to build back. It's basically a land grab so only the wealthy can live on the waterways," Ford said. He added it "wasn't a restoration effort, it's a relocation effort."
Responding to a question about financing and insurance requirements, Holley responded that it was the mortgage company's decision regarding the flood insurance requirements on a loan.
It was pointed out the most recent flood map for
According to Holley, there are 129 NFIP policies issued in
The regular monthly CLB meeting is set for Monday at
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