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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
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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.
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