The controversial and almost universally maligned Federal Emergency Management Agency pilot inspection program of lower level enclosures that was supposed to last only seven years from its 2002 inception has been extended for at least another 18 months.
County officials received notice from the FEMA Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch, Mitigation Division last week that the federal agency feels as though Monroe County has not made enough strides in a program to eradicate non-conforming downstairs enclosures.
“Following consultations with Monroe County…we have decided to extend the Pilot Inspection Procedure for Monroe County unincorporated areas,” wrote Major May, regional administrator for that division. “Based on discussions with your staff, we understand that the county has not made significant progress identifying and remedying unlawful enclosures and it requires an extension of the Pilot Inspection Procedure to complete the requirements…”
In 2002, the county agreed, under threat of expulsion from the National Flood Insurance Program, to enter into a pilot program whereby enclosures thought to be non-conforming would have to be inspected by county personnel before flood insurance on those properties could be renewed.
Known locally as the insurance inspection program, county staff was to identify properties where potential non-conforming enclosures existed that carried federally subsidized flood insurance policies.
Continue reading ‘FEMA wielding double-fisted hammer
Extend pilot or lose NFIP’
New leader wants more active group
Long-time Big Pine Key resident, and unofficial Mayor Steve Miller, has been named the newest President of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce.
And he wants to know from the business community on the islands how the chamber can help them be more successful.
Monroe County may get a short reprieve from the need to implement new growth management regulations to keep its place in the National Flood Insurance Inspection Program.
Where did this clown come from?
I am a fan of the television show Dexter.
Can’t help it. There’s something about a serial killer who goes after serial killers that just piques my morbid sense of justice.
But that’s not where I’m headed with this.
On the show, the Dexter character always talks about his dark passenger, which is the alter ego of his serial killer self, as opposed to the public self that is a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department.
It’s irony wrapped in a conundrum and it just makes me smile.
But anyway, it’s the dark passenger bit that brings this column to light this week.
You see, I have picked up my own dark passenger.
Get out and support your schools
Early voting for the Jan. 31 Presidential preference primary is now open. People can vote until Jan. 28. And everyone should.
Just because there is only a Republican Presidential primary going on doesn’t mean voters other than registered Republicans won’t have business at the polls, either early or on Jan. 31.
The biggest item on the ballot for everyone that day is the Monroe County Schools half-mil tax diversion referendum.
