(VitalNews.org) – Federal policies that are conflicting could force thousands of people in flood prone areas to pay out more for flood insurance, or they could even be left to face risks posed by dams.
The issue involves complex flood policies and national security precautions that had taken effect after the September Eleventh attacks. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Point-based system requires communities to look at all the homes, businesses, and facilities that are at risk of potential dam failure.
However, in some communities it is difficult or impossible because federal agencies restrict the release of this specific information due to potential security risks.
A California emergency services official warned, saying, “Federal dam information sharing procedures cost communities points, homeowners money, and potentially citizens lives.”
There was a meeting to FEMA’s National Dam Safety Review Board that was attended by multiple state and federal officials. Since this meeting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has posted public maps of areas that could be flooded if one of the hundreds of dams were to fail.
This kind of information is restricted by federal agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
FEMA is accepting comments about potential revisions of their Community Rating System, which awards discounts on flood insurance for those communities who take steps toward reducing risks. However, these conflicting federal policies could make it impossible or difficult for residents who are looking to get better insurance discounts.
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