County hopes to retain flood insurance

Florida Keys News

Monday, June 18, 2012

County hopes to retain flood insurance

BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com

The Monroe County Commission will vote Wednesday on a proposal that could keep FEMA from revoking flood insurance and give some property owners the chance to build on their land, a right that was previously denied them.

There are roughly 45,000 properties on what is known as the "FEMA list," which prohibits those property owners from receiving insurance through the federall...

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FEMA

Submitted on Mon, 06/18/2012 - 9:39pm

I agree, there is no other company that writes flood insurance. No private company can afford to take the risk in a flood zone. FEMA is needed. Not for me, as I have not maintained a flood policy since my loan after Georges, I have to carry the risk myself. If you do not like the flood rates you can pay off your mortgage, or do not buy in a VE zone or a ground level home. Otherwise the flood rates are really not that expensive compared to the wind rates here. I always said It's hell living in Paradise".

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The one cent tax lasts for 5

Submitted on Mon, 06/18/2012 - 7:34pm by 666

The one cent tax lasts for 5 more years. Why extend it now? It is outrageous that our politicians want to extend a tax for another 22 years and are conveniently allowing it to be used for "other purposes". I urge everyone to speak out against this extension. If more money is needed, we can always Extend it in 4 years, for another 5years. This type of garbage is why people no longer support any tax increases. Where is Gover Norquist when you need him. The only pledge our politicians here seem to have is to keep taxing and spending as much money as possible. A bunch of them call themselves Republicans? Please...

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Let Me Understand....

Submitted on Mon, 06/18/2012 - 6:56am by hotyi54c

There are only 17,169 properties in the Keys receiving subsidized flood insurance. Another 45,000 that are prohibited from receiving it. Another several hundred that have lower enclosures? I have no idea why Monroe County is fighting for NFIP coverage when leaving the program gives the county more control over Keys development. It appears looking at the numbers this cumbersome program is helping only a minority of Keys residents. Time would be better spent trying to find an alternative to helping those $17K residents with a new policy that trying to conform to FEMA rules.

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The 17,169 property owners are the working people in this county

Submitted on Mon, 06/18/2012 - 1:29pm by joey

Do you want to go to Miami everytime you want to get your hair done, your teeth cleaned,your grandchildren educated. It is the fireman that puts out your fires or the policemen that keep our community safe or the trashman that takes away your garbage, I suggest we conform to FEMA's rules! They are the most affordable insurance out there! SO suck it up you fat cats and accept that we need FEMA or send all your free time commuting to Miami for the necessities and put your own fires out! There is NO affordable flood insurance out there other than FEMA! The only ones that wine at FEMA's rules are the fat cat's that don't want anyone telling them what they can or cannot build on their properties.

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I Don't Buy Your Argument Joey....

Submitted on Mon, 06/18/2012 - 5:39pm by hotyi54c

The ones who want FEMA out of their lives are middle class, working people. Look who showed up at the Citizen Not Serfs meetings. Instead of trying to find ways to keep FEMA, the alternative should be looked at. Again, it's only affecting a minority of Keys residents.

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You are wrong. Without FEMA

Submitted on Mon, 06/18/2012 - 7:32pm by 666

You are wrong. Without FEMA thousands of working class people would no longer be able to afford flood insurance and be in default of their mortgages. Alternatives are very expensive. I have looked. Thousands more each year. You reference an alternative, but there is none right now. As soon as you come up with one and implement it, let us know and then we can get rid of FEMA. The people who showed up to these meetings want their downstairs enclosures, but can NOT get rid of FEMA. If they had an alternative, they would not be worried about FEMAs rules. Without FEMA flood insurance or an affordable replacement (which currently does not exist)' this County will be in deep trouble.

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Number of properties does not equal number of residents

Submitted on Mon, 06/18/2012 - 7:07pm by *

Do you think each property is owned by a different "resident." There are a ton of properties owned by a very select few people. AKA people with a ton of money who bought every square inch they could.

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It's a contrived movement

Submitted on Mon, 06/18/2012 - 6:36pm by Sal Gutierrez

to run all the low-rollers out of the county....and it's working. Oh well...off to Miami for a hair cut.

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The only people who are

Submitted on Tue, 06/19/2012 - 5:55am by david2009

The only people who are against FEMA are the sociopathic owners of illegal downstairs enclosures and real estate agents who don't care about the rest of us.