FEMA to change flood maps. Could save Albuquerque homeowners $millions!

Thousands of New Mexican’s and Millions of American’s could be getting a break on their next insurance bill after a local congressman pointed out a loose regulation by a federal agency.

Since Hurricane Katrina ravished levees in New Orleans, the Federal Emergency Management Agency started to look at flood plain maps across the country. If there was a levee bordering a river that wasn’t adequate, FEMA instituted a “Without Levee” policy that acted like it didn’t exist.

“They sort of took an all or nothing approach and we’re saying go back and actually evaluate what the risk is in various areas and take action based on what that is,” said Representative Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico).

“The levees and channels still provide flood control, and there isn’t a problem. But on paper fema is saying there is a problem,” said South Valley resident and Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority Engineer Jerry Lovato.

After Hurricane Katrina hit, FEMA changed their flood zone maps and many Albuquerque homeowners who didn’t need flood insurance before found themselves shelling out hundreds of dollars more every year to pay for what they felt was unnecessary flood insurance. Well FEMA has decided to revise those maps and the implications of this change could save Albuquerque homeowners millions of dollars every year!