Representative Rosendale introduced the Fixing Announcements for Intermittent Remapping and Notification Expectations to Stop Surprises (FAIRNESS) in Flood Insurance Act of 2021 to prevent surprise financial burdens at the end of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) remapping process.
This legislation would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator to notify affected property owners at three stages of the remapping process: 15 days prior to the beginning of remapping that could affect their property, 30 days before the start of the appeals process, and within 15 days of the conclusion of that process.
Representative Rosendale heard numerous concerns from Montanans who were mapped into a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and required to purchase flood insurance without receiving sufficient notice of opportunities to dispute or appeal the map. This bill would ensure all property owners receive letters, including cost estimates, from the FEMA Administrator throughout the remapping process if their property could be affected.
“Nobody should be hearing about additional flood insurance expenses when it’s already too late to do anything about it. It’s just common sense to make sure people know about changes that affect their property,” Representative Rosendale said. “My bill would ensure folks are aware of when remapping may affect them and make sure they have the opportunity to appeal FEMA’s proposed map revision.”
PRESS RELEASE PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN MATT ROSENDALE