Washington, D.C. -- Central New Yorkers with property listed in new federal flood-hazard zones received a reprieve Thursday from Congress, which granted a five-year delay of a requirement to buy flood insurance. The House of Representatives voted 239 to 182 to approve the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act. The legislation includes an amendment from U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt, to...
Washington, D.C. -- Central New Yorkers with property listed in new federal flood-hazard zones received a reprieve Thursday from Congress, which granted a five-year delay of a requirement to buy flood insurance.
The House of Representatives voted 239 to 182 to approve the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act. The legislation includes an amendment from U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt, to delay the federal insurance mandate.
Without the delay, about 2,400 Onondaga County property owners would be required by federal law to buy flood insurance as early as this fall. The insurance typically costs from $500 to $2,000 per year.
The House legislation gives property owners up to five years to buy flood insurance if they are included on new flood maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The legislation is retroactive to September 2008.
Maffei took action after The Post-Standard reported that the FEMA wants to revise flood plain maps for Onondaga County by adding 2,383 parcels to its 100-year flood zone, deeming the properties a flood hazard.
About 1,100 of the affected parcels are in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods on Syracuse’s South and Southwest sides near Onondaga Creek, which has not experienced recent flooding problems.
The changes initially were due to become effective Nov. 4. But Maffei and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., argued that FEMA had given insufficient notice. Many public officials said they were unaware of the proposed changes until a Post-Standard report in April.
In addition to the House legislation approved Thursday, Schumer succeeded in convincing FEMA officials to give Syracuse and Onondaga County more time to appeal their decision and ask for properties to be excluded from the new maps.
The Central New York municipalities and property owners now have until Sept. 15 to appeal the flood maps. Under a June agreement with Schumer, FEMA will not charge a fee to local municipalities or property owners who appeal the designation.
FEMA also agreed to hold a community forum in Syracuse to educate local residents on what information is needed to challenge its proposed map changes. The forum is likely to be held later this month or in August, said Max Young, speaking for Schumer.
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner praised the local congressional delegation for its support. “This action by Congressman Maffei is good news on one front as we continue work on the city’s appeal of the proposed FEMA flood maps on technical grounds,” Miner said in a statement. “Working with Congressman Maffei and Senators Schumer and (Kirsten) Gillibrand, our mutual goal to is reduce the more than 1,000 city properties added to the proposed maps.”
The legislation approved Thursday was supported by Maffei and Central New York Reps. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, and Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh. Only one Republican voted in favor of the bill. The legislation now moves to the Senate, but the bill is unlikely to be considered before Congress takes it August recess.
Staff writer Meghan Rubado contributed to this report. Contact Washington correspondent Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751.