FEMA
NLIHC is circulating a sign-on letter to congressional leadership in support of the “Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act” (H.R. 3037). If enacted, this legislation would codify and expand FEMA’s recent policy changes addressing the significant title-documentation challenges that have resulted in thousands of eligible disaster survivors being wrongfully denied FEMA assistance. Sign your organization on to the letter here.
FEMA is urging stakeholders, community groups, and the public to comment on its proposal to collect demographic information from applicants participating in certain FEMA programs. The deadline to submit comments is March 28. Learn more and submit your comments on the Federal Register website.
HUD
HUD is hosting a virtual Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Problem Solving Clinic to educate CDBG-DR and CDBG-Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) grantees on how to successfully and compliantly implement their programs. Register today.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA released its 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report on February 15. The report provides the most up-to-date sea level rise projections for all U.S. states and territories to help communities assess potential changes in sea levels. NOAA projects that sea level rise will create a profound shift in coastal flooding over the next 30 years by causing tide and storm surge heights to increase and reach further inland. By 2050, “moderate” flooding, which is “typically damaging,” is expected to occur, on average, more than 10 times as often as it does today and may be intensified by local factors. Without additional risk reduction measures, U.S. coastal infrastructure, communities, and ecosystems will face increased impacts.
Reporting
The Washington Post reports sea levels are expected to rise one foot along U.S. coastlines by 2050, according to a report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on February 15. Research from the Union of Concerned Scientists suggests that 10 to 12 inches of sea-level rise by 2050 would put roughly 140,000 homes at risk of “chronic inundation,” or flooding every other week on average.
An article in the Conversation states that low-income households are more likely to suffer damage from disasters and are often the least able to recover from them. The author argues that communities must plan to ensure that their most marginalized and at-risk residents can rebuild after a disaster. Disaster housing recovery planning can result in greater resilience and community vitality.
Flooding
The Advocate analyzed data from FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program and found that many Louisianans would face crippling rate increases under the new “Risk Rating 2.0” system. Roughly half of Louisiana policyholders will see their rates jump by more than 129% over the next decade, and about one in 10 could see premiums increase by more than four times their current amount. The editorial board of the Advocate urges Louisianans to follow the issue closely and notes that compound premium increases would have significant impacts on housing markets.
Hurricanes
According to the Advocate, volunteers have been critical in rebuilding efforts in Louisiana’s Lake Charles since Hurricane Laura devastated the area nearly a year and a half ago. The COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of federal aid have hampered recovery efforts in southwest Louisiana, and nearly 2,000 families remain in temporary housing provided by FEMA.
Around 700 temporary housing trailers have arrived in St. John the Baptist Parish in Louisiana, but strict FEMA requirements are making it difficult to identify places to site the trailers. Parish residents report that Hurricane Ida recovery is being hampered by insurance problems and supply chain issues.
Tornadoes
Kentucky homeowners and renters who suffered damages from storms and tornadoes in December 2021 have until Monday, March 14, to apply for federal disaster assistance.
Some residents of 16 Kentucky counties who received initial FEMA rental assistance because of damage to their homes from storms and tornadoes in December 2021 may be eligible for continued rental assistance. Learn more here.
Survivors of the severe storms and tornadoes that hit Tennessee in December 2021 have until Tuesday, March 15, to apply for FEMA assistance. Residents of Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Stewart, Sumner, Weakley, and Wilson counties may apply for FEMA Individual Assistance, which can cover expenses related to temporary housing, such as rental assistance or reimbursement for hotel costs.