Residents of Lee County, Florida, devastated by Hurricane Ian, are facing a sudden 25% increase in flood insurance rates after a federal decision stripped them of a discount that saved them hundreds of millions of dollars. This comes as the cost of insurance coverage in Florida has surged to nearly five times the national average. County officials, previously warned about potential rate hikes, are attempting to shift blame to the federal government. Efforts to mitigate the situation include a letter led by Senator Rick Scott, alongside Senator Marco Rubio and Representatives Byron Donalds and Greg Steube, urging FEMA to keep the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) discounts in place. They argue that in the wake of disaster recovery and rising inflation, families need relief, not higher costs. Meanwhile, a dispute between FEMA and Lee County could lead to over 100,000 Floridians facing increased flood insurance rates later this year.
A dispute between FEMA and Lee County means more than 100,000 Floridians in Hurricane Ian's path will face spikes in flood insurance rates later this year. Experts say there are important lessons for the rest of Florida. w/ @JackHEvans https://t.co/BxjLyHAsrK
.@fema's decision to eliminate discounts for NFIP policyholders would be disastrous for Lee Co. I join @SenRickScott @SenMarcoRubio & @RepGregSteube in demanding FEMA reverse course. This is WRONG & I stand strongly for our SWFL community in the face of misguided bureaucracy. https://t.co/o9oFYNsZdu
🚨 Important Congressional Update 🚨 I just sent a critical letter with @RepDonaldsPress, @SenRickScott, and @SenMarcoRubio to Administrator Criswell regarding FEMA's decision to retrograde Lee County, FL's NFIP discount. This adds to the financial strain on residents still… https://t.co/lNBEsiIRas
Biden FEMA blindsides hurricane-battered community, strips locals of insurance discount https://t.co/bfJj6cYTVr
FEMA Blindsides Hurricane-Battered Community, Strips Locals Of Insurance Discount https://t.co/qs90mt3SxO
I led a letter with @SenMarcoRubio, @RepDonaldsPress & @RepGregSteube urging @FEMA to meet with Lee County leaders & keep NFIP discounts in place. In the wake of disaster recovery & skyrocketing inflation, families need relief, not higher costs. https://t.co/ntTWpwCOIq
Elevating homes can flood neighbors. This South #Florida county hopes a tweak to the rules will fix that problem. https://t.co/Y6ZQhSP6fv via @harrisalexc
👀 "A stunning federal decision is leaving residents of a Florida county that was devastated by one of the nation’s most destructive hurricanes without an insurance discount that has saved them hundreds of millions of dollars." https://t.co/uOf5FoM3Gq
Florida's insurance crisis has pushed costs of coverage to nearly five times the national average. https://t.co/CIGOhK16Vo
As residents of #Florida county hit by Hurricane Ian face sudden 25% flood insurance increase, county officials who were warned repeatedly about this try to shift blame to feds. https://t.co/hASYYuTeXe h/t @FloridaTrend