Town Manager, Andrew Hyatt, will mail a letter this week to more than 5,000 households in Fort Myers Beach with policies from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to offer an update and reassurance about efforts to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to retain policy discounts.
FEMA is mandated to mail a letter to residents later this month about the status of the program, and the Town believes some of the language may understandably cause residents concern.
Specifically, the FEMA letter may speak to removing the Town of Fort Myers Beach from the Community Rating System (CRS), which is now giving Fort Myers Beach residents up to a 25% discount on their flood insurance. The letter also may say that all policyholders would receive a $50 surcharge on their policies if the Town were placed on probation. The letter may also state that if the Town is suspended, then no one in the affected area will be eligible for federal flood insurance.
The Town’s letter, which can be viewed at www.fmbgov.com.com/NFIP, tells residents that none of this is slated to happen during the 2024 hurricane season. The Town has many months to coordinate with FEMA to create a collaborative plan and to avoid being placed on probation from participation in the NFIP.
Hyatt stated, “The Town of Fort Myers Beach is committed to transparency and as such we will continue to provide information to our citizens regarding the National Flood Insurance Program. Town staff continues to work with FEMA to avoid probation and maintain the current CRS Rating of 5.”
Residents who have questions after receiving the FEMA letter can contact Town staff at (239) 765 – 0202 and more information is available at www.fmbgov.com.com/NFIP.
The Town has been working with FEMA since Hurricane Ian made landfall in 2022 and has had weekly meetings with FEMA since Spring 2024. The Town was notified July 19, 2024, that FEMA will maintain Fort Myers Beach’s CRS rating of 5 and NFIP policyholder discounts, while the Town and FEMA continue to work on a plan to address identified continuing issues. The plan will be completed in November.