Louise Slaughter’s first piece of action in the 2014 campaign came in a press release that contained a letter to Mark Assini. To hear her tell it, she had to teach Mark Assini a little bit about flood insurance and town government. Apparently, a number of Gates residents received notices that their flood insurance premiums would rise because the Town of Gates failed to file a map revision with FEMA. Here’s the key part of Slaughter’s letter to Assini:
It was recently brought to my attention that McMahon LaRue Associates submitted a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) on behalf of the Town of Gates to FEMA. I understand that after FEMA began the review process that they required additional, up to date information about the Town of Gates’ floodplain management efforts. FEMA sent McMahon LaRue Associates and the Town a letter in July 2013 explaining that in order for LOMR to move forward, the Town and Town’s flood administrator needed to provide info more information to FEMA within 90-days to support the map revision. After no response to FEMA within the 90-day timeframe, FEMA was forced to close the LOMR case for the Town due to lack of response.
Expect this to come up in the Assini/Slaughter debate later this year. The whole press release is included after the break:
WASHINGTON – Rep. Slaughter is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Town of Gates to resolve FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps that have caused many homeowners to receive notice of flood insurance rate increase notices. Several of these homeowners have contacted Congresswoman Slaughter’s office for assistance, believing that their properties are wrongly placed in a flood zone.
On Friday, Rep. Slaughter sent letters to FEMA Administrator William Fugate and Gates Town Supervisor Mark Assini asking both parties to take additional steps to fix the redrawn flood maps. Specifically, Slaughter encouraged the Town of Gates to revise their Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), a revision of a specific Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and provide FEMA with additional information. LOMRs are FEMA’s map revision modification system to revise a specific FIRM which can encompass multiple properties within a community. Slaughter encouraged FEMA to work with the Town on new flood maps to protect homeowners from rate hikes.
Slaughter will host FEMA in Monroe County later this year for two separate Technical Assistance Workshops for community officials. The first workshop will cover all aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The second workshop will be specific to the Community Rating System, a voluntary program under NFIP which encourages communities to meet standards in an effort to reduce policy holder’s rates by up to 25%.
Last month, Rep. Slaughter supported a bipartisan fix to limit rate increases and allow communities to challenge FEMA’s new flood maps. Rep. Slaughter has also supported upgrades to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Read both letters below:
LETTER TO FEMA
Dear Administrator Fugate,
Let me begin by thanking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for their willingness to come to Monroe County and have a Technical Assistance Workshop on the National Flood Insurance Program and subsequent workshop of the Community Rating System. I look forward to hosting these events with FEMA.
I write to urge FEMA to swiftly review the Flood Insurance Rates Maps (FIRM) of the Town of Gates and surrounding areas. Several of my constituents have contacted me with their growing concerns about issues with how the LiDAR mapping was processed when updating the FIRM.
As a strong supporter and original cosponsor of the newly-enacted Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act I strongly believe in helping American families who are currently struggling to afford flood insurance. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act updates the National Flood Insurance Program to bring some much-needed accountability to FEMA’s flood map-drawing process to protect homeowners throughout the country. In addition, the law institutes caps on flood insurance premium increases and provides refunds for families who have already been hit with unaffordable insurance rates. I look forward to the implementation of this law.
It is my hope that FEMA will work with my office and the Town of Gates to ensure that all mapping models and data are appropriate and accurate. I look forward to working with you on this matter. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or my staff.
Sincerely.
Rep. Louise Slaughter
LETTER TO THE TOWN OF GATES
Dear Supervisor Assini,
Over the past several weeks, I have heard from many of our constituents in the Town of Gates who have concerns about the flood insurance premiums and possible inaccurate flood mapping. Therefore, I have since contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency to seek their attention to this matter.
It was recently brought to my attention that McMahon LaRue Associates submitted a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) on behalf of the Town of Gates to FEMA. I understand that after FEMA began the review process that they required additional, up to date information about the Town of Gates’ floodplain management efforts. FEMA sent McMahon LaRue Associates and the Town a letter in July 2013 explaining that in order for LOMR to move forward, the Town and Town’s flood administrator needed to provide info more information to FEMA within 90-days to support the map revision. After no response to FEMA within the 90-day timeframe, FEMA was forced to close the LOMR case for the Town due to lack of response.
In Congress I have recently voted for upgrades the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). As a strong supporter and original cosponsor of the newly-enacted Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act I strongly believe in helping American families who are currently struggling to afford flood insurance. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act updates the NFIP to bring some much-needed accountability to FEMA’s flood map-drawing process to protect homeowners throughout the country. In addition, the law institutes caps on flood insurance premium increases and provides refunds for families who have already been hit with unaffordable insurance rates. I look forward to the implementation of this law.
As you know, the LOMR can officially revise the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) which could help many constituents. As a voluntary member of the NFIP, the Town of Gates should maintain records of the information requested by FEMA in order for the LOMR process to move forward with FEMA.
Also, as I am sure you are aware, as a member of the NFIP, the Town can reduce individual flood insurance policy holder’s rates up to 25% by joining the Community Rating System (CRS) and meeting the minimum standards of NFIP. At my request FEMA has agreed to come to our community for a Technical Assistance Workshop on NFIP and CRS. Details are forthcoming on these events. I will keep you updated on these important opportunities.
It is my hope that the Town will pursue the LOMR process once again. I look forward to assisting you and our shared constituency to effectively communicate with FEMA. Should you need to contact me, please feel free to contact my [Rochester District Office] at 585.232.4850.
Sincerely,
Rep. Louise Slaughter