At our first Coastal Symposium, a panel of experts outlined some of the drastic changes and potentially devastating effects that the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act may have on our region.
Panelists included officials from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the Alabama Department of Insurance, and members of real estate, home building and banking industries. David Treutel, Jr., president and CEO of Treutel Insurance Agency of Bay St. Louis, moderated our discussion. He also serves as chairman of the Flood Insurance Producers National Committee and chairs the Flood Task Force for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.
While the legislation was intended to stabilize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), instead it has already triggered rate increases and changes to flood plain maps in cities where it has been implemented. As of now, Louisiana is the only Gulf Coast state to experience these changes. However, officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) admit they have faced barriers in enforcing the new law.
David Miller, FEMA deputy director and administrator of NFIP, was unable to attend due to the federal government shutdown. However, we are working to schedule a date in January for him to come to Mobile and address the NFIP.
In an effort to keep home and business owners in Mobile and Baldwin counties informed of pending changes to NFIP, we will continue to provide information that we deem to be factual and accurate on this website and in our monthly newsletter.
These documents were shared with attendees at the Coastal Symposium:
FEMA Build Back Stronger Facts
Additional information is available at: http://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance-reform-act-2012
