FEMA delivers late blow to Lee County residents impacted by Hurricane Ian

Massive destruction on Fort Myers Beach in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. FELIX MIZIOZNIKOV / COURTESY PHOTO

Without any prior notice, FEMA verbally informed Lee County and some of its municipalities late Thursday, March 28, that it was altering discounts on National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) premiums that allow residents to save up to 25%, delivering a blow to the community as it continues to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Ian.

FEMA has provided no written notification or documentation outlining any specific details that would lead to this sudden rating change, which would take effect Oct. 1. The county’s work in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) has resulted in saving taxpayers a collective $14 million to $17 million annually in unincorporated Lee County alone. When considering the cities within Lee County, the savings is in the tens of millions of dollars.

Extensive efforts — particularly after Hurricane Ian — have been made to demonstrate to the federal government that the county and its city partners go above and beyond what’s required to meet and exceed FEMA and NFIP standards.

“For the federal government to have made this decision without any prior discussions seems punitive,” said Lee Board of County Commission Chairman Mike Greenwell. “Ian was the third costliest hurricane to hit the United States, and many of our residents are still reeling financially from its impacts.”

About 699,000 residents live in areas that will be impacted by the FEMA decision — City of Bonita Springs, City of Cape Coral, Village of Estero, Town of Fort Myers Beach and unincorporated Lee County.

The City of Bonita Springs has spent years complying with the FEMA CRS Program successfully, Mayor Rick Steinmeyer said. “After being devastated by multiple hurricanes in recent years, the impact of this decision would be damaging to our residents. Our residents deserve the opportunity to appeal the decision. To withhold the option of an appeal is unacceptable.”

Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter said he is “deeply troubled by the federal government’s unilateral decision regarding altering Cape Coral’s flood insurance rating.” He also said, “The federal government must provide the support our community desperately needs to ensure they retain the discounts they currently receive on their national flood insurance premiums. The timing of this decision after our community suffered a devastating Category 5 hurricane is just wrong. Make no mistake, FEMA is the villain in this nightmare.”

Town of Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said, “Without warning or communication, a rash decision like this will significantly strain our residents struggling to recover from Hurricane Ian. The Town of Fort Myers Beach has always gone above and beyond to maintain our CRS rating and request FEMA suspend their decision.”

Local government leaders are committed to addressing the issue with the federal government. The Lee County Attorney’s Office is looking into what, if any, legal remedies are immediately available.

There are 51,103 NFIP policies in force in unincorporated Lee County, which has a population of about 388,000.

“County Administration and our Board want FEMA to suspend its decision until meaningful discussion can occur, so the county and its municipal partners have opportunities to address FEMA’s concerns,” Lee County Manager Dave Harner said. “This is critical to mitigate the potential impact to our residents. There must be an appeal process.”

Cape Coral City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said, “FEMA’s decision was made without providing documented evidence of the alleged noncompliance. Despite the often upsetting and challenging work performed by city staff to enforce the substantial improvement/substantial damage (50% Rule) in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, this notification doubles down the financial impacts our residents and businesses already suffered.”

Lee County for 17 years has had a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rating low enough that flood insurance policy holders in unincorporated Lee County had a 25% discount on standard federal flood insurance policies — a discount collectively valued at $14 million to $17 million annually.

Every three years, NFIP conducts a field visit to audit unincorporated Lee County’s ongoing floodplain management activities and flood-mapping records. After the audit, Lee County receives notification that the county retains its Class 5 rating to earn the 25% discount in the NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS).

The CRS program was implemented by the federal government as a voluntary program for recognizing and encouraging community floodplain management activities exceeding the minimum NFIP standards. The CRS provides incentives in the form of premium discounts (in 5% increments) using a rating system from Class 10 (low) to Class 1 (high). Those activities include maintaining FEMA-established base flood elevations for new construction and providing community documentation, information and enforcement of FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

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The post FEMA delivers late blow to Lee County residents impacted by Hurricane Ian first appeared on Bonita Springs Florida Weekly .