Attorney General Ashley Moody has urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reduce regulatory burdens on Florida families recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The current National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP) regulations are hindering many residents from rebuilding or repairing their homes, according to Moody.
In a statement, Attorney General Moody highlighted the devastation caused by the hurricanes: “Florida was recently devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, leaving some Floridians with only debris in the places where homes once stood. While the recovery process has begun, burdensome regulations are making it so people cannot afford to repair damage and could force them to leave the communities they love. I’m calling on FEMA to ease the burden on these families who are struggling to rebuild on limited budgets.”
Moody's letter to Acting Federal Insurance Assistant Administrator Jeffery Jackson outlined concerns about NFIP regulations preventing home repairs. "While the rebuilding process continues, a disturbing issue has come to light. Many homes affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton are participants in the National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP), which is administered by FEMA," she wrote. The letter explains that homes requiring 'substantial improvements' must adhere to flood-resistant building codes if repair costs exceed half of their pre-storm value.
Moody emphasized that while updating homes to current standards is ideal, it poses significant challenges for those in low-income areas with older homes. “While it is preferable for any home to be built to the most current standards, many of those suffering most from the storms lived in older homes in low-income areas and do not have the resources to fundamentally rebuild their homes…In circumstances like this, many people will simply abandon their home and, possibly, have no choice but to leave the community they love altogether,” she noted.
The Attorney General has requested FEMA consider more variances and increase funding for bringing homes up to NFIP standards.