Ezell asks FEMA to adopt new flood maps
Congressman Mike Ezell and the rest of the Mississippi Delegation asked FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to consider updated flood maps for South Mississippi.
Ezell asked Criswell about the flood maps during her appearance before economic development, public buildings, and emergency management subcommittee on Tuesday.
Ezell read part of a letter from the entire Mississippi Delegation to FEMA, calling on the agency to consider updated flood maps for Coastal Mississippi communities.
During the hearing, Ezell secured Criswell’s commitment to include new maps designed through the Mississippi Coastal Map Revision Project in FEMA’s risk rating calculations. Criswell said, “Congressman, I will personally go back and check in on the flood maps you just mentioned to ensure that they are being included appropriately into the risk rating calculations for premiums and I would be happy to continue working with you and other members of Congress as we work on an affordability framework so that everybody who needs flood insurance can afford flood insurance.”
The Mississippi Delegation said in the letter it is important to update the maps to reflect changes to the coastline and the significant advances in technology since digital flood insurance rate maps were adopted in 2009.
