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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449
Chip Weiskotten, 202-226-8553

HERSETH SANDLIN ASKS FEMA TO AID FLOOD VICTIMS WHO DROPPED INSURANCE

Re-drawn Floodplain Map Led to Uninsured South Dakota Homeowners

May 11, 2007, Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator R. David Paulison regarding the hundreds of South Dakotans who dropped their flood insurance coverage months before the devastating recent floods. Rep. Herseth Sandlin’s letter advised Administrator Paulison of this unique and unfortunate situation, and urged his cooperation as these citizens continue recovery from widespread flooding, particularly in Aberdeen.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Administrator Paulison:

As you know, nearly 20,000 communities, including communities in South Dakota impacted by recent severe weather, participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), by adopting and enforcing floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood damage. In exchange, the NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in these communities.

On May 5, 2007, severe thunderstorms struck eastern South Dakota causing widespread flooding – leaving numerous homes, businesses, and farms heavily damaged or destroyed. Aberdeen, South Dakota received an historically high rainfall of up to 9 inches in a 24 hour period. Unfortunately, many homes in Aberdeen are not protected by flood insurance. Inopportunely, many of these home owners were notified in February 2007 that they were no longer required to carry flood insurance because FEMA had revised its local NFIP regulations and flood insurance requirements. Those homeowners who elected not to maintain their flood insurance policies due to this redrawn map are now in an extremely difficult position.

Without proactive outreach by FEMA, the ill-fated timing of this devastating storm - less than three months after the NFIP map revisions - will undoubtedly lead to uncertainty for these home owners and their insurance providers. I write not only to advise you of this serious situation, but to strongly encourage you to work with my office, the citizens of Aberdeen, and insurance providers to ensure that insurance claims, which result from this destructive natural disaster, are handled in view of this unique and uniquely unfortunate situation.

I thank you for your assistance and look forward to hearing from you about this important matter.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
Member of Congress

# # #

Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Resources. In the 110th Congress, Herseth Sandlin was appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.