As part of his strong commitment to protecting floodplain and river communities, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer and Members of Congress from Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, and 32 other states and U.S. territories are calling on federal officials to improve the process of updating our nation’s critical Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that have caused concerns among river residents.

Luetkemeyer, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), U.S. Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL) and U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) authored a bipartisan letter that was sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

“Updating our nation’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps is an important task and we support efforts to better inform and educate residents about flood risk in their communities.  However, we are very concerned about the way USACE and FEMA have approached the process and the challenges that have been created for affected communities,” the lawmakers said in a letter to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary for Civil Works at the Army Corps of Engineers. “We represent a diverse population with a variety of problems that have arisen as the FIRMs have been updated.  Our constituents have expressed several concerns about the flood mapping program.”

The concerns include:  A lack of communication and outreach with local stakeholders; a lack of coordination between FEMA and USACE in answering questions about flood mapping, flood insurance and flood control infrastructure repairs; lack of recognition of locally funded flood control projects when determining flood zones; the affordability of flood insurance; inadequate time and resource to complete repairs to flood control structures before flood maps are finalized; lack of coordination between USACE and FEMA on levee recertification; lack of consideration to extend deadlines for locally-funded flood control projects who work in good faith to make progress toward improvements; limited use of LiDAR mapping as available, and the reluctance to postpone finalization of floodplain maps if LiDAR information is to be available within one calendar year of proposed deadline; the potential impact that new flood maps may have on economic development, particularly in small and rural communities; and inaccuracy of DFIRM data and the onus placed on homeowners and communities to provide accurate data.

“Americans deserve to have answers because of the risks they face from river flooding and that it why I am committed to working in a bipartisan fashion to secure solutions for river communities,” Luetkemeyer said. “Our group is hopeful that federal officials will work with us in an expedited manner to resolve these issues and provide peace of mind to our constituents.”

“I think most people agree our nation’s flood maps need to be updated.  However, many communities, homeowners, small businesses and levee districts in NW Missouri are frustrated with the way in which FEMA and the USACE are handling this process, and rightfully so.  There are serious issues and challenges that have arisen throughout the flood map modernization effort and FEMA and the USACE are either unaware of these problems or unwilling to address them. We can and must do better,” Graves said.   

“Many parts of my district, especially the village of Gulfport, were devastated by the floods of 2008,” Hare said. “The last thing they can afford is for FEMA to rush through the new mapping process without addressing their legitimate concerns about everything from funding for the required engineering to insurance rates to levee certification. I call on FEMA to slow down, coordinate with the levee certification efforts already performed annually with the Corps of Engineers, consult with the stakeholders up and down the Mississippi River, and ensure the new flood maps are as fair and accurate as possible.”

“The new flood map boundaries may put many Iowa families in a difficult position - they must balance the family budget with a new and unexpected expense and a potential decline in their home value,” Loebsack said. “I certainly believe that flood insurance is one of the most important investments a homeowner can make but also believe its commonsense that homeowners should have a fair opportunity to participate in the process that will ultimately affect their home’s value and be able to have a level of trust that the data being used is accurate.”

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