U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to prohibit all-or-nothing modeling to determine new Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
The current FEMA approach could cost Southern Tier taxpayers millions.
With the new modeling, 6,500 additional buildings would be considered in a food zone, costing property owners more for flood insurance.
Senator Schumer said FEMA’s one-size-fits-all approach to flood mapping places an expensive and unnecessary burden on families and small businesses across New York State.
“Many of our communities have taken proactive steps to prevent flooding, and levees that help ward off flooding should be accounted for when assessing the need for flood insurance.
New York residents should not be asked to pay for flood insurance they don’t need said Senator Gillibrand
She added it’s critical that the flood mapping is done accurately, so local residents are not burdened with unnecessary insurance bills.
