Conflicting federal policies may cost residents more on flood insurance, and leave them at risk
Conflicting federal policies may force thousands of residents in flood-prone areas to pay more for flood insurance or be left unaware of danger posed by dams built upstream from their homes and worksites, according to an
The problem stems from a complex set of flood policies and some national security precautions taken after the
To get the best discount on flood insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s points-based rating system requires communities to chart all the homes, businesses and critical facilities endangered by a potential dam failure and warn people of their risk. But that’s difficult or even impossible in some communities, because other federal agencies restrict the release of such information for hundreds of dams that they own or regulate across the
The quandary has persisted for years, though federal officials have been warned of its implications.
Federal “dam information sharing procedures costs communities points, homeowners money, and potentially citizens lives,” a
The meeting's minutes were provided to the AP this summer, nearly two-and-half years after the news organization submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to
Since that meeting, the
The
Meanwhile,
“I believe this is a punishment to us,”
One community's frustrations
Another community that has been affected by the information-sharing gap is
During a review about five years ago,
“We got wrapped around the axle,” said Booth, now executive director of the
The city of
For an individual homeowner, the missed discounts could make about
“People need to be informed of the potential dangers of living in an area that’s protected by a dam," Millino said.
Flood risks and costs
As the climate changes, heavy rains from intense storms have put communities at increased risk of flooding and placed the nation's aging dams in greater jeopardy of failing. That's been evident as recent floodwaters damaged or breached dams in
Floods have caused about
But
Premium discounts ranging from 5% to 45% are available in jurisdictions that participate in
Most communities don't seek the extra savings. Just 1,500 local governments take part in the Community Rating System, though they account for three-quarters of policies issued under the National Flood Insurance Program. Just two communities —
“It was ironic that one federal agency funded it," Flaner said. "It was like, `Ummm, maybe you guys need to talk to each other.'”
"There’s a lot of jurisdictions that can’t meet the requirements because they can’t get the maps, or a federal agency is saying, `No, do not do outreach downstream of our dam,'” said Flaner, who has worked with nearly 300 local governments over three decades, first as a Community Rating System specialist on behalf of
Security concerns
But after the
The
The
A complex system
Three years ago,
Nothing immediate came from the 2021 review. Though
The
Some local officials contend FEMA’s Community Rating System is too costly and complex, especially for governments with small budgets and staffs. The rating system has about 100 items for which communities can earn points, often requiring extensive documentation. The dam safety section is among the most challenging — just four communities got any points for their local efforts during the most recent evaluation, according to
During its last review,
“We do know where the dams are,” said
The rating process is frustrating and incredibly time-consuming, Biever said. Though it’s resulted in a 40% discount for about 600 flood-insurance policyholders, “nobody’s every called and said, `Hey thanks for all that extra effort,’” Biever added.
None of Thurston County’s cities and towns participate in the Community Rating System, meaning the county's flood-insurance discount is only available in unincorporated areas.
In
“If that dam that’s on that reservoir was to fail, it would be catastrophic flooding,” Fowler said. “In a couple hours, there would be 20 feet of water in the town.”
Crypto 'beats' Big Oil – Is it finally mainstream after $119M contributions?
Jobs prime Fed chair to signal a rate cut
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News