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National Flood Insurance Program

Jeff Brandes: Legislature needs educating about flood risk

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A state senator proposing legislation to mitigate flood risk said Friday that lawmakers in Tallahassee don’t fully appreciate the extent of that risk. “I think my colleagues in the Legislature don’t quite understand the gravity of the situation — much like Congress,” said Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican. “They do not understand how serious the risk is.” But that’s understandable, Brandes said — their constituents don’t, either. “Most folks don’t understand how important the issue of flood insurance is. Most…

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Jeff Brandes to file flood mitigation bill

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State Sen. Jeff Brandes says he will file legislation for the 2017 Legislative Session to fund flood mitigation in affected communities. The idea is to lower the cost of flood insurance by decreasing flood severity in areas covered by the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System. The legislation will create a matching grant program, in part through the state’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund, for “local projects (that) reduce flood risks and acquire conservation land for the purpose of mitigating flood risk,” Brandes’ office said…

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Petition seeks more time to file Hurricane Matthew-related flood insurance claims

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A plaintiff’s attorney has launched a petition drive urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to extend the deadline for homeowners to document proof of loss with the National Flood Insurance Program. Thomas Young, of the Law Office of Thomas Young in Tampa, wants the feds to extend the existing 60-day deadline by another 60 days — for a total 120. He posted his petition Monday at WhiteHouse.gov, saying FEMA often issues extensions, giving homeowners and small businesses more time to complete the paperwork. “As recently as…

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Florida Office of Insurance Regulation says flood rates in Florida may be unfair

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The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has responded to state Sen. Jeff Brandes’ request to study the methods used to determine National Flood Insurance Program policy rates. The office agrees that with the limited information available to regulators, the rates may be “unfairly discriminatory.” According to a letter from OIR commissioner Kevin McCarty, his NFIP experience suggests the flood loss ratio from 1978 until 2012 was just 28.3 percent. “This is not an alarming loss ratio, and does not seem to…

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Jeff Brandes wants transparency in National Flood Insurance Program rates

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Florida state Sen. Jeff Brandes wants FEMA to release data from flood insurance policies under the National Flood Insurance Program to determine whether or not the premiums assessed for policies are excessive or arbitrarily assigned. In a letter to Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner Kevin McCarty Wednesday, Brandes argued there were 100,000 fewer flood insurance policies in effect this June compared to last May. Homeowners face as much as 25 percent rate increases each year for non-primary residences and…

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Rick Scott signs flood insurance flexibility bill into law

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Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday afternoon granted final approval to a measure sponsored by state Sen. Jeff Brandes aimed at increasing flexibility and lowering premiums on insurance premiums. SB 1094 was co-sponsored by Brandes’ fellow Pinellas County Republican state Rep. Larry Ahern. Brandes and Ahern both represent moderate coastal districts where flood insurance is among voters’ highest priorities. Brandes has passed legislation before in the Senate related to the federal Biggert-Waters Act. The measure would allow insurance companies and those seeking coverage by…

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Flood insurance flexibility bill goes to Rick Scott’s desk for approval

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A measure sponsored by state Sen. Jeff Brandes aimed at increasing flexibility and lowering premiums on insurance premiums has made it as far as the Governor’s Office, where it sits pending his approval. SB 1094, which replaced the House version sponsored by fellow Pinellas County Republican state Rep. Larry Ahern — both of whom represent moderate coastal districts where flood insurance is a far hotter issue than abortion or gay adoption — is almost certain to meet with approval by Gov.…

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