Conflicting Federal Policies May Cost Residents More On Flood Insurance

Conflicting federal policies may force thousands of residents in flood-prone areas to pay more for flood insurance or leave them unaware of the danger posed by dams built upstream from their homes and worksites, according to a review of federal records and data, David A. Lieb reported for the Associated Press (AP).

To get the best discount on flood insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires communities to chart all the homes, businesses, and critical facilities endangered by a potential dam failure and to warn people of their risk.

The problem stems from a complex set of flood policies and national security precautions taken after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

To get the best discount on flood insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires communities to chart all the homes, businesses, and critical facilities endangered by a potential dam failure and to warn people of their risk.

However, this is difficult or even impossible in some communities because other federal agencies restrict the release of such information for hundreds of dams that they own or regulate across the US, citing security risks.

This issue has persisted for years, despite warnings from federal officials about its implications.

A California emergency services official warned in a January 2020 presentation to FEMA’s National Dam Safety Review Board that federal “dam information sharing procedures cost communities points, homeowners money, and potentially citizens’ lives.”

The meeting’s minutes, provided to the AP this summer, came nearly two and a half years after the news organization submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to FEMA.