DC Delegation Offers Details on Bill to Delay FEMA Flood Map Changes

A bill before the U.S. House and Senate would require FEMA to perform an affordability study and propose affordability solutions before recent changes to flood maps are instituted.

In response to concerns from many Hingham residents about the changes, the Town of Hingham has already appropriated $40,000 to hire an engineer to help prepare to appeal FEMA's new flood maps.

Local officials last week said they were deciding between two firms and the process would happen over the next few months, the Boston Globe reported. 

The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act "includes a provision to compensate homeowners who successfully appeal their inclusion in new flood maps and are granted new elevation certificates," according to a press release issued by Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

"Families shouldn't be slammed by unexpected and unaffordable rate hikes while FEMA is still trying to figure out if its maps are accurate," Warren said. "I'm pleased to join colleagues on both sides of the aisle to call for a commonsense, one-year delay, which will give FEMA time to complete an affordability study and properly implement the new rates. This legislation will help families in Massachusetts and across the country."

Specifically, the legislation would accomplish the following:

• Imposes a delay likely to total four years for the most vulnerable properties, by delaying implementation of rate increases until two years after FEMA completes an affordability study, which was mandated in Biggert-Waters but not undertaken. FEMA has estimated it will take 2 years to complete the affordability study. It would then take up to an additional 2 years for FEMA to submit an affordability framework to Congress and for Congress to review the framework. This means rate increases would be delayed for 4 years in total. The delay applies to: primary, non-repetitive loss residences that are currently grandfathered; all properties sold after July 6, 2012; and all properties that purchased a new policy after July 6, 2012.
• Requires FEMA to propose an affordability framework that addresses the identified affordability issues within 18 months after the completion of the study and provides 6 months for Congressional review.
• Allows FEMA to utilize National Flood Insurance Funds to reimburse policyholders who successfully appeal a map determination.
• Eliminates the 50 percent cap on state and local contributions to levee construction and reconstruction. 
• Protects the so-called “basement exception,” which allows the lowest proofed opening in a home to be used for determining flood insurance rates.
• Establishes a Flood Insurance Rate Map Advocate within FEMA to answer current and prospective policyholder questions about the flood mapping process.
• Requires FEMA to certify that the agency has fully adopted a modernized risk-based approach to analyzing flood risk.