Residents of east Hartford were disappointed after a teleconference call Tuesday among the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Kansas Division of Water Resources and officials in Lyon County.
Steve Samuelson, Lyon County zoning director and flood plain manager, had asked FEMA to grant a two-year provisional certification of the Hartford levee, which protects the city from flooding by the Neosho River. In Tuesday’s teleconference, Julie Grauer of FEMA denied the request. The levee doesn’t qualify under FEMA’s standards, Grauer said, because it isn’t on the current map.
Hartford won’t get that provisional break. What this means to the residents of Hartford is that the ball is back in the Corps of Engineer’s court and residents are left waiting.
“The corps have stated that they do believe (the levee) is certifiable, they just need time to certify it,” Grauer said.
But, time eventually will run out for residents of Hartford. FEMA has released its new flood maps and residents have 90 days to appeal those. Because the Hartford levee isn’t on the maps, part of the east side of town is shown as being on a flood plain. If the levee isn’t certified by the time the final maps are released later this year, those residents who have federally backed mortgages will be required to purchase flood insurance, which is expensive.
During the teleconference call, Grauer said that if the levee is certified after residents have purchased flood insurance, they can get a letter from their lenders saying the insurance is no longer required and cancel their policies. The key, she said, is to get enrolled before the maps come into effect to get a less expensive rate.
“Once the Corps gives information that the levee is certified, the people behind the levee would no longer have to carry flood insurance,” Grauer said. “You can request a refund for the amount, up to two years.”
Samuelson asked Grauer if the refund amount is for the unused portion or the whole policy. Grauer said it was for the whole policy within a certain time frame. The request must be made within the coverage year, however.
Following the teleconference, Samuelson expressed disappointment in FEMA’s decision not to grant a provisional certification.
“The people of Hartford are going to have to buy flood insurance,” Samuelson said of the consequences of the levee not being certified in time.
Waiting for the levee to be certified leaves the people of Hartford hanging in the balance. Hartford Mayor Paul Cassity, expressed concern over this.
“The city will be in limbo until they (Corps) decide to certify it,” Cassity said. “Getting the levee certified, that’s where we’re at. It’s going to create a financial burden to residents.”
Cassity said the city of Hartford will have to adopt a resolution allowing Hartford to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program before any residents could buy the insurance. The key is getting enrolled into the National Flood Insurance Program early so residents can lock in lower rates.
Cassity said if the levee isn’t certified in time, it will not affect just the residents.
“It’s going to make it difficult to sell a home in that area,” he said.
Patrick Wiederholt, president of the Hartford State Bank, also expressed concerns.
“I’m concerned and it’s really up to the Corps,” Wiederholt said. “This has been going on for months and months. Anybody with a mortgage will be forced to buy flood insurance. FEMA and the corps are holding us hostage as a city.”
Wiederholt said even if residents are only forced to buy flood insurance temporarily and even if they get a refund, it will still create a burden in that moment.
“It will be very hard on the public,” he said. “I am confident it will work out, in the meantime, I hope we don’t have to inconvenience the public. We have two agencies — FEMA and the Corps — who can’t work together.”
Wiederholt said he has confidence in the levee.
“I know it works,” he said. “They (Corps) haven’t just put it there and ignored it. I’m confident with living behind it.”
Wiederholt said Samuelson has worked hard to try to get the situation alleviated so that residents don’t have to pay. He said Samuelson has provided Hartford with information from the beginning.
“Steve Samuelson has done a wonderful job in dealing with it,” he said. “He’s worked his tail off. I also feel we as a community have done everything we can.”
A town meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. today at Hartford’s city call to discuss the levee issue. Samuelson and city officials will amswer questions.