Some Lafayette parish residents will see a lower flood insurance rate

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that some of the residents of Lafayette Parish and its incorporated parts will see a drop in their flood insurance premiums by up to 10 percent. The reason for the savings is that the Lafayette Consolidated Government is now taking an active role in the Community Rating System for the National Flood Insurance Program. This means that business and homeowners, as well as renters in Lafayette city and the unincorporated areas of Lafayette Parish may qualify for a decrease of between five and…

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SmarterSafer.org Statement Urges Congress to Pass Permanent NFIP Reform as Hurricane

(Washington, DC) ‒ SmarterSafer.org today released a statement urging Congress to pass long-term, common-sense NFIP reform at the end of the 2011 Hurricane Season: “The 2011 hurricane season has come to an end, yet there are those who are still struggling from the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Communities across the United States have seen firsthand the need for a National Flood Insurance Program that protects lives and property while saving taxpayer dollars. The U.S. Congress has had several opportunities to pass permanent NFIP reform that has support in both the…

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FEMA to update flood maps for Florida by 2012 hurricane season

FEMA has begun updated its flood maps for the state of Florida and the new maps will be put into effect before the 2012 hurricane season. The maps determine what properties are at risk of flooding in the event of a natural disaster or severe storm. Insurers rely on these maps and the risk they place on certain regions to price insurance coverage. Typically, areas that are classified as high risk are required to have some form of flood insurance protection. Collier County will have the most drastic change next…

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National Flood Insurance Program wins extension from Senate

The National Flood Insurance Program seems to have avoided expiration again, as federal legislators passed a new short-term funding bill that would keep the program afloat until December 16 of this year. The program has been burdened by crippling debt since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. The majority of people in the U.S. have flood insurance provided by the program, which has put pressure on lawmakers to fix the program before these people lose their insurance coverage. Fixing the program, however, seems to be easier said than done. NFIP was scheduled to…

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Legislators look to revoke insurance mandate on areas protected from floods

Two legislators are looking to reverse federal flood-insurance mandates requiring property owners in areas protected by flood-control structures to have flood insurance. Senators Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Mark Pryor of Arkansas say that the mandate presents an undue financial burden to those living in areas that are not prone to floods due to the protective measures taken against such a happening. The legislation in question is part of the National Flood Insurance Program, which itself is the subject of much debate in Congress due to its financial instability. The…

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