Norton to Hold Hearing on Controversial Flood Maps (1/28/08)

Norton to Hold Hearing on Controversial Flood Maps
January 28, 2008

Washington, DC--On the heels of the release of controversial new flood control maps by FEMA, the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management will hold a hearing entitled "National Flood Plain Maps: The Practical Impact," on maps identifying flood hazards issued for the District and other flood plain jurisdictions, on February 14, 2008 at 10:00 AM in room 2167 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The subcommittee, which Norton chairs, has jurisdiction over FEMA's domestic hazards and hazard mitigation operations.

Unlike most jurisdictions, the District's costs for new levees will be picked up by the federal government because the land and levees belong to the National Park Service and the federal government. Norton says the hearing is important to clarify many questions that have arisen here and in jurisdictions across the country about the maps-from whether new requirements to mitigate against floods that have only a one-percent chance of occurring are overkill, to who will bear the costs, how to streamline assessment and certification requirements, and how to alleviate these hazards in the future. Speculation about home insurance increases is widespread. Some homeowners and businesses in Southwest Washington are in the new flood plain, but the chief insurance impact likely will be on new construction, such as along Delaware Avenue and M Street, S.W. The area most in danger of flooding is the Federal triangle. The affected levees in the District requiring temporary closures are located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument and three openings at 17th, 23rd, and P Street at Fort. McNair. According to FEMA, it is necessary to eliminate the use of temporary closures because they require 24 hours to construct.

Norton, who also is a member of the Water Resources Subcommittee, has assured that language for the estimated $7.2 million cost for the District would be in the Water Resources Development bill since 1996. However, that bill cleared the House but not the Senate until this year and was signed by the President in November only after Congress overrode a veto. The District asked for and received more time to appeal the new flood plain maps. After receiving similar requests from other jurisdictions, FEMA will wait until March 26, 2008, before giving final approval to the maps.