[StBernard] FEMA COULD PUT SOLA LEVEES ON THE MAP

[Westley Annis]

FEMA COULD PUT SOLA LEVEES ON THE MAP

Posted Monday, July 15th, 2013	 by Stephen Babcock

Sweeping changes to stave off skyrocketing flood insurance rates didn't make
it into Congress' Farm Bill, but change in the flood maps is still likely
coming to South Louisiana. FEMA is set to create a pilot program that will
change the way flood insurance rates for areas that fall outside of federal
levee protection. That means five South Louisiana parishes that have long
faced higher flood insurance could soon get some relief.
 
The federal levee system, which was improved following the Federal Flood,
protects much of New Orleans and Metairie. According to the feds, residents
and businesses in those areas face less flood risk, and therefore pay lower
insurance rates.
 
Even if the surrounding parishes that do not fall within the federal system
have levees, they are not seen as protected in the eyes of FEMA because
their levees have not been accredited by the feds. Therefore, they have more
risk, and pay higher flood insurance rates.
 
The new pilot program will look at levees in Plaquemines Parish, Lafourche
Parish, Terrebone Parish and St. Tammany Parish. The program will create new
guidelines for FEMA to consider when mapping these areas, based on the
protection they have created for themselves.
 
"These communities have made significant investments to protect themselves,
but currently aren't getting any credit from FEMA," U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu
said in a statement. "For too long FEMA has failed to recognize the reality
on the ground along the coast; the new guidelines for these parishes are an
important opportunity to improve FEMA's understanding of coastal Louisiana's
unique topography and conditions."
 
But the program is no guarantee. Landrieu said she "will not be satisfied
until all our coastal communities get the credit they deserve for their
levees."
 
The pilot program announcement comes as new FEMA flood maps are in the works
all around South Louisiana. The agency recently released a new draft of the
flood map for Orleans Parish, which is currently in a public review period.
Outlying areas of Orleans Parish that are not within the federal levee
system, such as some areas of New Orleans East, are set to see flood
insurance rate increases as a result of the new maps.
 
According to U.S. Senator David Vitter, the feds said they would work to put
accreditation for non-federal levees in place before issuing the new maps.
 
At this meeting, Mr. Miller specifically committed to us that no further
preliminary maps would be issued until FEMA finalizes its LAMP process and
determines an accurate way to credit all flood control features. In a letter
to FEMA administrator Craig Fugate sent July 10, Vitter said Associate
Administrator for Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration David
Miller told the Senator he wouldn't put new flood maps in place until the
accreditation policy was rewritten.
 
"At this meeting, Mr. Miller specifically committed to us that no further
preliminary maps would be issued until FEMA finalizes its (non-federal
accreditation) process and determines an accurate way to credit all flood
control features," Vitter wrote.
 
Vitter called for FEMA to rescind the maps issued in the beginning of July
for Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes. Given the recent local
outrage over changes to the National Flood Insurance Program that will leave
flood insurance rates higher for the feds, Vitter writes that the feds are
"repeating the same irresponsible mistake."
 
"The maps also don't reflect much credit at all for the non-federal levees,"
Vitter writes. "They make it crystal clear that FEMA still has no idea how
to accurately credit pump stations and other flood control features."
 
FEMA has not announced plans to change the current maps.