Flood Insurance Costs Cut In Lakeland
Release Date: November 6, 2004
Release Number: 1561-109
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Property owners in Lakeland and four other Florida communities will pay 10 percent less for flood insurance thanks, to special efforts by local officials to reduce future flood losses, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) announced today.
The new flood insurance premiums took effect October 1, reflecting actions the communities took to educate residents about flooding, zoning rules and building regulations, and other mitigation steps.
Residents of Lakeland hold 604 policies totaling $83.7 million in coverage. Statewide, Floridians hold 1,819,861 policies with $285 billion worth of coverage, more than 40 percent of the policies nationwide.
Other communities that earned reductions are Highlands County, the cities of Neptune Beach and Parker, and the town of Davie.
Lakeland policyholders will pay less for flood insurance because city officials provide ongoing drainage maintenance and inspections in developed areas, enforce rules for storm water management and freeboard in non-flood hazard zones, make flood zone information readily available, and preserve floodplain land as open space.
Bill Carwile, federal coordinating officer for disaster recovery efforts in Florida, praised the city for its improved rating.
"They have earned peace of mind as well as lower insurance premiums," Carwile said. "Property owners should experience less flood damage in the future, and residents are also paying less for flood insurance."
Federally backed flood insurance is available to homeowners, renters and business owners in communities that adopt and enforce local ordinances that reduce future flood losses by regulating new construction. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is administered by FEMA.
For information about flood insurance, property owners should contact their insurance agents or call the flood program's toll-free information line at 1-800-427-4661. Flood insurance information is also available at www.floodsmart.gov or at www.fema.gov/nfip.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Monday, 08-Nov-2004 13:22:47