Drawing the Line

Source

Down East

Date

5-1-2014

Pages

34-37

Abstract

A look at the controversy surrounding the new flood maps drawn up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Many towns in Maine and Massachusetts are disputing the new flood maps, with some citizens claiming that FEMA expanded floodplains in order to require more homeowners to purchase flood insurance (the National Flood Insurance Program is $24 billion in debt in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy). Others question why the same map-modeling process was not used from town to town and why mitigating factors such as breakwaters and narrow peninsulas were ignored when the new maps were drawn. The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 is another controversial measure that will impact homeowners. The Act ends flood insurance subsidies for older homes and second homes.

Subjects

U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Insurance -- Flood

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