This week, Lee County announced that County Manager Dave Harner will be sending a letter to over 67,000 households in unincorporated areas, including Captiva, who hold policies under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The letter aims to update residents on ongoing efforts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to maintain their policy discounts.
Later this August, FEMA is scheduled to send out a letter to residents, which the county believes may cause concern due to the language used. Specifically, the FEMA letter might suggest the possibility of unincorporated Lee County being removed from the Community Rating System (CRS). This rating is currently providing residents with up to a 25% discount on their flood insurance policies. Additionally, the letter may mention a $50 surcharge for all policyholders if the county were placed on probation, and it could indicate that suspension from the CRS would result in the loss of federal flood insurance eligibility for the affected areas.
The county’s letter, however, reassures residents that these potential changes are not expected to take place during the 2024 hurricane season. Lee County officials emphasize that there is ample time to work with FEMA to develop a collaborative plan and avoid any probation from the NFIP.
“We are actively collaborating with FEMA to prevent many of the concerns mentioned in their letter,” Harner stated. “Protecting the NFIP policyholders in unincorporated Lee County is a top priority, and our Board of County Commissioners is fully committed to maintaining residents’ discounts and ensuring ongoing participation in this essential flood insurance program.”
Harner also emphasized the county’s commitment to transparency and keeping the public informed throughout the process.
Since Hurricane Ian struck in 2022, Lee County has been in continuous discussions with FEMA, holding weekly meetings since the spring. On July 19, FEMA confirmed that unincorporated Lee County will retain its CRS rating of 5 and the associated NFIP policyholder discounts while both parties work together on a plan to address ongoing issues. The final plan is expected to be completed this fall.
To read the full letter from the county, visit www.leegov.com/femacrs.
For residents with questions following the receipt of FEMA’s letter, they can contact LeeCountyFEMA@leegov.com or visit www.leegov.com/femacrs for further information.
