Flood Insurance News

Missourians Urge FEMA Action Over Too-High Illinois Levee

Missouri landowners and environmentalists are urging a federal agency to sanction a levee district on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, arguing that the earthen barrier has been built above its authorized height, worsening flooding for its neighbors. Great …

Democrats’ Climate Change Concern Ebbs When Congress Faces Flood Insurance

A Congressional stalemate over flood insurance highlights the difficulty of enacting the type of reforms urged last week in a U.S. government report on climate change — even for Democrats, who embraced the report’s findings. The heavily indebted National Flood …

Climate Groups Warn About Virginia Tax Cut for Homes in Flood-Prone Areas

A measure approved by Virginia voters this week to cut taxes on homes in flood-prone areas of the flood-prone commonwealth has climate experts warning that it might encourage people to remain in vulnerable areas – and could spread to other …

Verisk Product Scores Properties on Flood Risk; Could Replace Outdated Flood Maps

Data analytics firm Verisk is touting the launch of WaterLine, an underwriting tool that scores flood risk for all properties in the contiguous United States, helping identify homes and businesses vulnerable to flood. The product scores properties on a 0-to-100 …

Floodwaters in Central Texas Destroy Bridge, Force Evacuations

Fast-moving floodwaters destroyed a bridge, forced the evacuation of riverside homes and led to numerous water rescues in Central Texas on Tuesday after more than a foot of rain fell in recent days. The bridge crumbled as it was overrun …

FEMA Head ‘Ticked Off’ Over Cycle of Inadequate Storm Preparation, Insurance, Evacuations

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long angrily criticized the failure of citizens to heed evacuation warnings and leaders to better prepare for natural disasters such as Hurricane Michael. “It’s frustrating to us because we repeat this same cycle over …

Texas’ Harris County Sets Aside $14.5M for New Flood Plain Maps

Harris County has earmarked $14.5 million for updated flood plain maps more than a year after deluges from Hurricane Harvey swamped parts of Houston. The Houston Chronicle reports commissioners accepted $6.5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. The county …

New Flood Maps Show Reduced Risks Around Dubuque, Iowa

New federal maps show that fewer buildings in Dubuque, Iowa, are at risk of flooding. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently updated flood insurance maps for the area that were last changed in 2011. …

Hurricane Florence Likely to Expose Gaps in Flood Insurance

The number of Americans with flood insurance is on the rise, yet Hurricane Florence is likely to make it painfully clear that too many homeowners in the Carolinas and other vulnerable regions remain unprotected. . An analysis of federal flood …

Virginia Museum Workers Act Fast to Protect Valuable Collection in Hurricane Florence

The Durand-Ruel sisters didn’t dress for hurricane season. The eldest had on a wide-brimmed hat, the kind one would take to a high-society garden party. Both wore white gowns that looked as though their sheerness would go transparent in a …