U.S. House of Representatives passes Rep. McGovern's amendment for communities disputing FEMA flood maps

The U.S. House of Representatives this evening approved an amendment by U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern to benefit local communities and residents facing the expensive process of fighting disputed FEMA flood maps.

Washington, DC, July 13, 2011
The U.S. House of Representatives this evening approved an amendment by U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern to benefit local communities and residents facing the expensive process of fighting disputed FEMA flood maps.

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES REP. McGOVERN'S AMENDMENT FOR COMMUNITIES DISPUTING FEMA FLOOD MAPS

The U.S. House of Representatives this evening approved an amendment by U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern to benefit local communities and residents facing the expensive process of fighting disputed FEMA flood maps.

Currently, communities that wish to dispute FEMA's flood elevation maps must hire costly private engineering firms to get a second opinion. If the community does not pay for a second opinion, homeowners must pay higher - or needless - flood insurance premiums. But if a challenge is successful, a community is still obligated to pay the costs associated with obtaining the second map.

McGovern's amendment allows for communities to be reimbursed for the expenses of mounting a successful challenge to incorrect FEMA flood maps.

On the House floor, McGovern highlighted the problems facing Holliston, one of the communities benefiting from the new amendment: -There is substantial evidence to support the case that the FEMA flood map [for Holliston] is inaccurate, but town officials are struggling to find a way to pay the estimated $30,000 it would cost to conduct a second engineering study.-

-Local communities have enough to worry about during these difficult economic times. They shouldn't have to cut schools/fire/police in order to pay for an appeal/review of a mistaken FEMA map,- said Rep. McGovern in a statement.

-It's not right that families, already struggling in this economy, are paying flood insurance unnecessarily because of incorrect FEMA maps,- said Massachusetts State Representative Carolyn Dykema. -Congressman McGovern's legislation will ensure that towns like Holliston can address incorrect maps in a timely manner, and provide needed relief to affected homeowners.-

McGovern's amendment was accepted as part of the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011, which reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through FY 2016 and is intended to ensure its immediate and near-term fiscal health.