Flood construction ban stops home repairs
One California homeowner is unable to get a building permit to commence repairs on his home because of a ban on construction in flood-prone areas.
Homeowner David Beahm told KXTV that he received a check from his homeowners insurance company for $132,000 after a garage fire left extensive damage to his home. However, when his contractor went to get permits to begin work, the company was denied.
Local officials told the station that because the repair costs were more than 50 percent of the home's value, they fell under a federal ban on construction in flood zones. One lawmaker said that a vote to repeal the moratorium has been delayed because of a ban on earmarks, but they are working to find a solution.
"All 100,000 people who live in the basin are one disaster away from not being able to repair their homes," Sacramento City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby told the station. "I am outraged."
Congress has also been discussing the future of the National Flood Insurance Program, which is run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Many lawmakers are pushing for significant reforms to the program to improve its stability.
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