Gulfport Administration, Portion of City Council Modify
Flood Rules to Get Around FEMA Objections Last week, while everyone was focused on Gustav recovery, a portion of the Gulfport City Council and the administration of Mayor Brent Warr successfully passed a measure that would modify the city's flood-control regulations. The new regulations would reduce the height and square-footage requirements of structures previous approved to comply with FEMA flood height requirements. Last year, the city got itself into trouble with FEMA over some 200 structures that were constructed or rebuilt that the city approved that did not meet its own rules that FEMA subsequently warned could jeopardize the city's flood insurance ratings. Among the structures was a bait shop at the harbor that is owned by the son of City Councilwoman Libby Roland. FEMA had cautioned the city that the bait shop was among the buildings that FEMA regarded as improperly placed and that was of a "high-profile" and should not have been constructed as it was. The city then began working with FEMA to resolve the issues that FEMA questioned. While several letters were sent from FEMA warning the city of a possible increase in what city residents would pay for flood insurance, the city managed to get FEMA to back off and subsequently the threat of the flood insurance increase was then said to have been "premature." Absent from this week's councilmeeting, and not voting on the issue were councilmember Barbara Nalley, Brian Carierre and Ella Holmes Hines. Because they were not present at the meeting, the new regulations will go into effect in 30 days, instead of immediately. According to a Sun Herald article, which tries to spin the issue
somewhat as critical against the absent Regarding the bait shop; that structure was to have been modified to be moved prior to any hurricane. That was a promise made to FEMA in explaining why it was built in non-compliance with the city's flood elevation requirements. The bait shop was said to have a quick-disconnect sewer and water line, and was supposed to be easy to place on a trailer and relocated to higher ground if a hurricane threatened. But that didn't happen. (GCN photo above left: Gulfport bait shop prior to Gustov.) Gustav came and flooded the harbor and the bait shop remained and was destroyed. A photo of the bait shop sitting in the midst of the rising Gustav waters can be seen Here. Typically, federal authorities do not take kindly to manipulations regarding their regulations by cities. Whether the latest actions by the city will be as well received as the mayor and some on the city council suggest remains to be seen. More Information: Gulfport Negligence Jeopardizes City's Status with National Flood Insurance Program - GCN Gulfport City Council Hears from FEMA on Flood Insurance Problems in City - GCN Gulfport
Eases Flood Zone Restrictions - Sun Herald 09/06/08
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councilmembers, the Warr adminstration says that they have spoken with
FEMA regarding the reduction in the flood heights and the new rules will
be okay with FEMA, but the article does not cite a FEMA source or quote a
letter from FEMA. The city may yet be in jeopardy and is trying to
sidestep its commitment to build structures that would be better hardened
against future storms.