FEMA'S THREATS

An ominous deadline, imposed by federal bureaucrats, is looming for Perry County officials. At stake are 143 flood insurance policies held by Perry County residents. The policies provide $4.4 million in coverage against disastrous floods like the ones that hit parts of the county in 1993 and 1995.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has served notice to Perry County officials that it faces sanctions from the National Flood Insurance Program on April 1 because of deficiencies in the county's floodplain management program. If Perry County fails to meet FEMA's regulations, it would be placed on probation. This would increase county residents' flood insurance premiums with a $50 surcharge. Eventually, FEMA could suspend Perry County from the national program altogether. If suspended, the county would be unable to receive federal disaster assistance in future flooding and would be prevented from making grants, loans or guarantees for properties in flood hazard areas.

There is a reason for FEMA's regulations: Taxpayers shouldn't be expected to bail out disaster victims if they're unwilling to take steps to protect themselves through private insurance and restrictions on construction in flood plains. FEMA must play hardball with deadbeat counties. This is the reason for the April 1 deadline.

Perry County officials, who certainly don't fall into the deadbeat category, realize this, so they were surprised by the federal agency's ultimatum. Presiding Commissioner Karl Klaus said the county knew of problems with its floodplain management plan and was working with FEMA to correct them. Klaus said the county addressed the agency's concerns in a letter sent in December. More than two months passed with no word from FEMA. Then a letter arrived threatening suspension from the National Flood Insurance Program.

After more changes to its floodplain ordinance, which now totals 18 pages, the county believes it is again in compliance with the federal regulations. But it is hard to say. Since the ordinance was first approved in 1987, it has been amended repeatedly as the county tries to meet ever-changing FEMA requirements. And the regulations shift without notification to the counties that are expected to comply with the law.

It is important that counties and cities eligible for federal disaster assistance meet certain criteria that minimizes such disasters. But it goes both ways. A county that tries in good faith to comply with federal regulations deserves to know where it stands before it is threatened by a federal agency. That same agency also must notify counties and towns expected to comply with its regulations when those regulations change.