Homeowners Furious At FEMA Over Flood Zones
Homeowners are furious at FEMA for changing the flood zone, and making them pay for insurance they say they don't need. Both officials and residents in Jasper agree the new map is wrong, and now many are having to pay for the problem.
Jasper officials say back in February of this year, FEMA updated their flood zone map. Most people didn't even notice, and many didn't know they were now living in one of the at risk areas, until their banks notified them that they needed flood insurance. Now, the town is fighting back saying it's an expensive error they WON'T pay for.
Rebecca Collins' family has lived at the corner of 3rd and Maple in Jasper for more than a century and she says they have never seen rainwaters reach the house, or even the street. So, when she heard the news that suddenly she was living in a flood zone, she was shocked. "That's crazy."
And she's not the only one surprised. Mayor Billy Simpson showed us the new map of the town's flood zones. But according to FEMA, now many areas including Collin's home are in that zone. Collins' says, "They must have made a mistake because so many people never had nothing like that, and can't afford it.>"
Surveyor Clarence Howard says he's seen firsthand the errors in the new map. "Took the old map from 77 and shifted it toward the square."
Howard says he's been called out to homes sitting 10 feet above the base flood level, but are now in the zone, and having to pay for it. "This guy ended up with 200 dollars a month some as much as 3000 a year, for flood insurance."
Howard showed us the stack of people protesting their situation. He says they have to pay to have him verify their land, home, or business is elevated, and then pay for a letter of map amendment to have it removed from the flood zone.
Leaving many residents with big bills and big questions. Howard says, "I've lived here 30 years, never seen water, what's going on, why am I getting these letters."
Collins adds, "We don't like it, and we hope we can get it changed, I hope."
Mayor Simpson says he has talked with state planners who are reviewing the maps. We did call FEMA to learn more about how the map was made. They told us they could not comment on this particular case.
But, they said the maps are made by county officials, contractors, and FEMA employees using the latest data.
