FEMA to hold Plaquemines Parish meetings to discuss flood ...

Discussing federal flood insurance changes that will affect Plaquemines Parish residents, especially those rebuilding from Hurricane Isaac, FEMA will hold the first of four public meetings on Tuesday evening in Plaquemines. The meeting is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Belle Chasse Auditorium, 8398 Louisiana 23.

At that meeting, FEMA representatives will pass along information regarding the? Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2012 that was passed in July 2012 and how that act will affect residents and business owners. There will be similar meetings, each at 6:30 p.m., in other Plaquemines locations Wednesday through Monday.

On Wednesday, the evening meeting is at the Port Sulphur Community Center, 278 Civic Drive; on Thursday evening, and on Friday, the only east bank meeting will be held Percy M. Griffin Community Center, 15511 Hwy 15, Braithwaite.

At 6:30 p.m. Monday, the meeting will be at the Buras Auditorium, 35619 Louisiana 11

The new act will tie in changes in Plaquemines' proposed new flood insurance rate maps. Meetings on those changes are expected sometime next month.

In areas outside of Belle Chasse -- the only Plaquemines area that has levees that meet Corps of Engineers' current standards -- that likely will mean having to elevate homes to heights between 17 and 21 feet in order to not have skyrocketing insurance rates.

The Biggert-Waters National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 likely will increase insurance policy rates based on any change in risk or recent substantial damage, along with other factors.

Based on initial FEMA estimates, premiums through the National Flood Insurance Program for a $250,000 single-family, one-story home in a high to moderate risk zone that sits 4 feet below base flood elevations could come to $9,500 a year. If the structure is at the base flood elevation level, it would cost about $1,410 a year, and if it's 3 feet above base flood elevations, it could cost $427 a year.

In terms of proposed flood insurance rate map, and thus elevation, changes property owners may click here, or go to www.riskmap6.com/Community.aspx?cid=113&sid=2, for specific information on their new property's proposed new flood classification.

To few a summary of the Biggert-Waters National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, and what changes can be expected, click here.

Source: http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/01/fema_to_hold_plaquemines_paris.html

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