A recent federal decision by FEMA to eliminate a crucial insurance discount has sparked significant controversy and concern among residents of a Florida county devastated by Hurricane Ian. This move is expected to remove the financial relief that saved the community hundreds of millions of dollars, impacting over 100,000 Floridians at a time when insurance trends heavily influenced by climate change are dictating where Americans can afford to live. In response, a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers, including Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, along with Representatives Byron Donalds and Greg Steube, have urged FEMA to reconsider its decision and maintain the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) discounts for Lee County. The lawmakers emphasized the importance of these discounts in the wake of disaster recovery and rising inflation, arguing that families need relief from higher costs. The dispute highlights broader issues related to the impact of climate change on property values and the increasing risk to insure homes in certain areas, raising concerns about the future ability of Americans to live in their preferred locations.
No escaping Florida’s climate-driven insurance crisis | Fred Grimm https://t.co/fYOGlYTtDK
.@fema must immediately conduct a thorough review of this consequential decision for SWFL residents. It's critical to the livelihoods of Lee Co. families & businesses that FEMA does everything needed to work with local leaders to ensure further cost increases DO NOT take effect. https://t.co/Xmyvn1pjYu
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
A World Without Insurance: A Climate-Future Look at Property Values https://t.co/ITW10fH6Vg https://t.co/UMceQC1fV7
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
Insurance trends are deciding where Americans will live as planet heats https://t.co/KhFMtVPmOc
👀 "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
Climate change and generations of US housing and development policy are making homes, neighborhoods, and entire municipalities riskier to insure, undermining the ability of Americans to live where they choose https://t.co/8pYruxYD2N