Emerson takes on FEMA over flood plain map

WASHINGTON -- Eighth District Rep. Jo Ann Emerson won acceptance for an amendment to the fiscal year 2013 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which provides funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, regarding changes to flood hazard maps. The House Appropriations Committee considered the bill Wednesday.

"Scott County is a perfect example of how this process needs more attention and accountability," Emerson said. "The flood maps are changing and local communities are extremely limited in their ability to get information from FEMA, to respond to it, and to get some action on their concerns. It should not be that way. These changes create serious costs and concerns about development. Not complying with the new map on FEMA's aggressive timeline has consequences for a community's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program."

Emerson's language recommends FEMA grant flexibility to communities needing more time to review the maps and encourages greater communication from FEMA to local authorities.

Emerson said FEMA provided maps to Scott County that were incomplete and included inaccurate assessments of the development potential for areas north of Sikeston.

"Under the rules as FEMA enforces them today, there is practically no recourse for a community which identifies inaccuracies in the flood maps. And if the maps being provided are incomplete, there is no way to tell whether an appeal is necessary or not. FEMA is making significant changes to the map in Scott County and the city of Sikeston, and they ought to be held accountable for their work," Emerson said.

Emerson has secured a meeting for local officials with representatives from FEMA to discuss the matter. She will attend the meeting in Sikeston in early June.