Articles
Demanding FEMA Stop NFIP Cost Increases in Southwest Florida
Washington,
April 1, 2024
"Demanding FEMA Stop NFIP Cost Increases in Southwest Florida"
By Congressman Byron Donalds Published in "Life in Naples Magazine" – April 2024 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently informed various municipalities throughout our Southwest Florida community of their plans to eliminate much-needed discounts for certain National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy holders. Previously, FEMA had offered NFIP policyholders in Lee County a community premium discount of 25 percent, which will be eliminated for some policyholders if FEMA moves forward with its recent decision. This consequential and potentially disastrous decision for Southwest Florida residents is unacceptable. FEMA must immediately conduct a thorough review of their decision and it is critical to the livelihoods of our neighbors and businesses alike, that FEMA does everything it can to work with local officials to ensure further cost increases do not take effect. As a result, I took action alongside Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). Together, in a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell we called on the agency to reverse its recent decision regarding the elimination of discounts for NFIP policyholders throughout Southwest Florida. It is critical that federal, state, and local authorities join together to stand strongly for all members of our community. Read the full text of our letter below: Dear Administrator Criswell: We write regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) recent decision to retrograde Lee County, Florida’s National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) community premium discount pursuant to the Community Rating System (CRS), effective October 1, 2024. The retrograde of the NFIP premium discount is yet another unforeseen challenge for Lee County residents, who continue their fight to recover from Hurricane Ian. In the wake of disaster recovery and skyrocketing inflation, Lee County residents now face even higher living costs as a result of this decision. We urge you to immediately conduct a thorough review of this decision, honor the original discounts and meet with local leaders to remedy any issues and keep NFIP discounts in place. Since Hurricane Ian made landfall in Lee County and caused widespread devastation in Southwest Florida, we have fought to deliver relief to Florida families and businesses and ensure a rapid recovery from this deadly storm. While we appreciated FEMA’s quick response in the immediate aftermath of the storm, we are discouraged by recent actions from the agency. FEMA’s recent decision to lower discounts and raise premiums for some NFIP policyholders in Lee County is liable to create yet another unacceptable rise in costs for Southwest Florida families and businesses still recovering from Hurricane Ian that is catastrophic for their financial stability. It is critical to the livelihoods of Florida families and businesses that FEMA does everything needed to work with local leaders to ensure further cost increases do not take effect. We look forward to working with FEMA to maintain NFIP discounts in Lee County as we continue to fight against higher costs for Florida families. Sincerely, Byron Donalds (R-FL) Member of Congress Greg Steube (R-FL) Member of Congress Rick Scott (R-FL) United States Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) United States Senator |