flood insurance

Woolsey hopes to attend flood insurance meeting with officials, feds

(marinij.com) - Marin officials, irked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency plans, face stiff odds on delaying a looming deadline for flood insurance needed by more than 1,200 local homeowners.They are calling in reinforcements in the form of Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, when they head to Washington D.C., on Monday to meet with FEMA brass.

“She has decided personally to attend this, and from a political point of view that’s big,” said Farhad Mansourian, the county’s director of public works. “The higher level of people you have there, everyone all of a sudden is much nicer to you.”

Woolsey aide Chris Shields said the congresswoman “remains concerned about this issue” but would not finalize a time to meet with FEMA and Marin officials until Monday.

Mansourian and county Supervisor Judy Arnold hope to extend a deadline for residents in high-risk flood zones who must purchase flood insurance that can run thousands of dollars per year and possibly lower the value of a home. FEMA has set May 4 as the date its new digitized maps will become effective, and many property owners near bayfronts and creeks must provide proof of purchase of flood insurance to their lenders by that date or the mortgage company will be forced by federal law to do so for them.

Federally subsidized flood insurance, which is not included in typical homeowners insurance, can be obtained before May 4 at the “grandfathered” rate at which the parcel owner would have paid prior to being placed in the high-risk.

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