Steven Palazzo presses FEMA chief on flood insurance reforms, disaster recovery funding
U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Biloxi, Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, today at a hearing questioned FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on several topics, according to a news release from the congressman’s office.
Palazzo questioned on the progress of implementation of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act.
The law, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and Senate earlier this month, was the product of more than a year of work by Palazzo and House leaders.
Palazzo also pressed Craig Fugate on disaster recovery funding for several South Mississippi structures damaged by Hurricane Isaac in 2012.
Palazzo also hand-delivered two letters that were sent last week to NOAA and FEMA in an effort to get answers and expedite the reimbursement process.
“Harrison County, the City of Gulfport, and the City of Long Beach have petitioned for disaster relief funds to rebuild and repair piers damaged by Hurricane Isaac,” Palazzo said. “Discouragingly, FEMA has denied their requests because it has insisted on putting these municipalities through additional environmental impact studies – even though these same piers were subjected to environmental impact studies completed only a few years earlier and the work involves repairs on existing structures.
Gulflive
3/25/14
Magnolia Tribune
