Durbin Leads Bipartisan Group of Senators in Effort to Resolve Issues with FEMA Flood Maps
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate
Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led a bipartisan group of
Senators in calling for a coordinated effort to resolve issues with
regard to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Flood Map
Modernization Program. In a letter to the Administrator of FEMA, Craig
Fugate, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Jo-Ellen Darcy, the
Senators asked for a meeting to discuss concerns expressed by
constituents including: a lack of communication, outreach and
coordination with local stakeholders; the affordability of flood
insurance; the lack of time and resources to complete levee repairs
before flood maps are finalized; and the impact of new flood maps on
economic development.
“Many of us have attempted
to address these issues administratively or legislatively on multiple
occasions in the past,” the Senators wrote. “However, the underlying
problems with regard to the Flood Map Modernization Program have yet to
be resolved. It is our hope that we are able to work together to find
solutions to the overarching problems that our constituents are
facing.”
Durbin worked closely with Senator
Mark Pryor (D-AK) to bring together 16 Senators from 9 different
states. Additional Senators signing on to today’s letter include
Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Christopher Bond
(R-MO), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Charles Grassley
(R-IA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Frank Lautenberg
(D-NJ), David Vitter (R-LA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Claire McCaskill
(D-MO), Roland Burris (D-IL) and Jon Tester (D-MT).
Text of the letter appears below:
March 18, 2010
The Honorable Craig Fugate
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
The Honorable Jo Ellen Darcy
Assistant Secretary for Civil Works
US Army Corps of Engineers
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20314
Dear Administrator Fugate and Secretary Darcy,
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and FEMA have
distinct but complementary roles in flood prevention and recovery at
the local level. Recent hurricanes along the Gulf Coast and flooding
in the Midwest have renewed the country’s focus on preventing the loss
of life and property as a result of flooding, and FEMA is addressing
the issue through the Flood Map Modernization Program. Updating our
nation’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) is an important task, and we
support the effort to secure better information to educate residents
about flood risk in their communities. However, we are very concerned
about the way the USACE and FEMA have approached the process and the
challenges that has created for affected communities.
We
represent a diverse group of constituents 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, including:
- 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;
- A lack of recognition of locally funded flood control projects when determining flood zones;
- The affordability of flood insurance;
- Inadequate time and resources to complete repairs to flood control structures before flood maps are finalized, and;
- Potential impacts new flood maps might have on economic development, particularly in small and rural communities.
As you are probably aware, many of us have attempted to address these
issues administratively or legislatively on multiple occasions in the
past. However, the underlying problems with regard to the Flood Map
Modernization Program have yet to be resolved. It is our hope that we
are able to work together to find solutions to the overarching problems
that our constituents are facing. If legislative solutions are called
for, we would welcome your guidance.
To that end, we
respectfully request an opportunity to meet with you to discuss levee
certification, the Flood Map Modernization Program, and issues relating
to the implementation of new FIRMs. If you have any questions or would
like to discuss this issue with our staffs, please do not hesitate to
contact us. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator
Dick Durbin