New legislation calls for for 5-year flood insurance moratorium

NORWICH – Mayor Joseph P. Maiurano urges everyone to contact their elected representatives to voice their support for new legislation that is being introduced to declare a 5-year moratorium on flood insurance for New York homeowners. The current requirement is that New York homeowners purchase expensive new flood insurance policies if they live in an area designated as a flood zone since September 30, 2007. The recent revisions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps has only exacerbated this problem. The FEMA flood-mapping techniques have received much criticism, including concerns about the use of old GIS data mapping techniques that can be inexact in measuring elevations, and failure to include historical data on flooding in impacted communities. Governments have pushed for the agency to go back to the drawing board an devise a flood-map plan that reflects on-the-ground realities.

Under existing law, homeowners who live in an area designated as a flood zone are federally mandated to purchase flood insurance. These policies can cost up to $2,000 per year across the state. The proposed legislation would waive the federal requirement to purchase flood insurance for a five-year period and make Preferred Risk Policies (PRPs) — a low-cost alternative — available for homeowners who wish to purchase the insurance or are required by their lender to do so. The proposed legislation would also phase in the amount of flood insurance required over an additional five years following the end of the five-year moratorium.

This proposed legislation would provide a significant reprieve to residents as the government continues to sort out and scrutinize modeling that was used to create the flood maps. This legislation was originally introduced by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), and will be re-introduced by them during the current session.

Concerned citizens are urged to contact their elected representatives:

Senator Charles Schumer

Federal Office Building

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15 Henry Street #B6

Binghamton, NY 13901

Phone: (607) 772-8109

Fax: (607) 772-8124

To email the Senator: schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contactchuck

Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand

531 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510