April 23, 2018
Proposed bill would have USGS take over responsibility for the nation’s flood maps
By News Editor
Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) recently introduced H.R. 5559, a bill that would transfer “functions related to the preparation of flood maps” from FEMA to USGS. The USGS prepares some general maps of flooding, while FEMA manages flood insurance rate maps, which define areas where communities must regulate development in order to make flood insurance available
April 16, 2018
FEMA considering new acquisition program direct to property owners
By News Editor
ASFPM wants to alert you to a notice in the Federal Register where FEMA is seeking comments on the update of several forms related to the acquisition of structures/property in conjunction with its Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs, and on FEMA’s proposal to exercise its authority to start an acquisition program directly with property owners (the
April 11, 2018
Flood Insurance Advocate Releases His Annual Report
By News Editor
FEMA released the 2017 Annual Report of the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate. The report is intended to increase transparency, and support the ongoing improvements to the National Flood Insurance Program with the goal of reducing its complexity. In 2017, the OFIA identified eight primary policyholder and property owner frustrations, which include recommendations that
April 2, 2018
USGS Publishes Bulletin 17C, “Guidelines for Determining Flood Flow Frequency”
By News Editor
Accurate estimates of flood frequency and magnitude are a key component of any effective nationwide flood risk management and flood damage abatement program. In addition to accuracy, methods for estimating flood risk must be uniformly and consistently applied because management of the nation’s water and related land resources is a collaborative effort involving multiple actors,
March 30, 2018
Federal Insurance Directorate Underwriting Branch Chief Named
By News Editor
FEMA names new underwriting branch chief John Hintermister has been selected as the Branch Chief for the Underwriting Branch in the Product Delivery Division of the Federal Insurance Directorate, according to a March 30, 2018 announcement. Hintermister started his FEMA career as an Insurance Examiner in the Underwriting Branch in 2008 and became an Underwriting
March 28, 2018
New WYO Bulletin highlights Oct. 1, 2018 NFIP changes
By News Editor
NFIP October 2018 Changes Bruce Bender, ASFPM Flood Insurance Committee Co-chair said, “As always, not many changes in the fall…but there are one or two big ones.” An NFIP policy can now be canceled pro-rata and replaced by a private policy if FEMA gets a copy of the declaration page and a statement from a
March 23, 2018
Did you submit an application for FMA or PDM mitigation funds?
By News Editor
Intergovernmental Affairs Advisory FEMA Announces Fiscal Year 2017 Pre-Disaster Mitigation and Flood Mitigation Assistance Status of Submissions March 22, 2018 FEMA will announce on March 22 the pre-award eligibility of sub-applications submitted for the Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant applications for Fiscal Year 2017. HMA’s two competitive grants programs are the Flood Mitigation Assistance and Pre-Disaster
March 22, 2018
A word from ASFPM’s Exec. Director on positive aspects of Omnibus budget
By News Editor
Dear ASFPM leaders: Congress released the text of the FY18 Omnibus late March 21 and I am thrilled to be able to report that the budget for pre-disaster mitigation and floodplain mapping are at their highest appropriated levels ever! Floodplain mapping: $262.5 million appropriated + $189.9 million from flood insurance fund (for flood mapping and
March 21, 2018
ASFPM Joins Multiple Groups Supporting HR 4062, the Digital Coast Act of 2017
By News Editor
ASFPM and others urge Congress to move Digital Coast Act along In a March 20, 2018 letter to Chairman Rob Bishop and Ranking Member Raul Grijalva of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, a Digital Coast Partnership Advocacy Coalition wrote the following: The Digital Coast Partnership Advocacy Coalition requests your help in scheduling a
February 14, 2018
ASFPM develops fact sheet for FHA 203(k)
By News Editor
ASFPM develops fact sheet for FHA 203(k) , a finance option to reduce flood losses for homeowners. In an attempt to revitalize neighborhoods that were run down, the Federal Housing Administration created the 203(k) Rehabilitation Program, which has been around since the 1970s. It was originally designed to encourage families in the low- to moderate-income…