Lee County homeowners get temporary insurance reprieve from FEMA after backlash from Rick Scott, others

FORT MYERS, Fla. – After receiving instant backlash from Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and other lawmakers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, reversed its decision Monday to retrograde Lee County’s National Flood Insurance Program.

The program, also known as NFIP, premium discount is tied to Lee County’s Community Rating System. The matter took on greater effect following the area’s impact from Hurricane Ian.

“After I demanded that @FEMA reverse its decision, we’ve received word that the agency is taking a 30-day pause to reconsider,” Scott said. “In the wake of disaster recovery & skyrocketing inflation, families need relief, not higher costs. We will keep fighting to get a guarantee that NFIP discounts will stay in place.”

Scott, who was joined by fellow Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla, and Greg Steube, R-Fla., contested the issue in a letter sent recently to FEMA Director Deanne Criswell. The letter also was reciprocated by Lee County’s Board of Commissioners.

According to the lawmaker’s letter, the NFIP premium discounts provided an “unforeseen challenge” to Lee County residents following Hurricane Ian. As part of his explanation, Scott conveyed the storms devastating and widespread damage on Lee County and Southwest Florida in Sept. 2022.

Following the storm’s aftermath, FEMA specifically made the decision to lower discounts and raise premiums for some NFIP policyholders in Lee County. The agency also stated a 25% reduction in flood insurance premiums would no longer be applied beginning Oct. 1.

“We urge you to immediately conduct a thorough review of this decision, honor the original discounts
and meet with local leaders to remedy any issues and keep NFIP discounts in place,” the letter said.

Scott called the decision “unacceptable” on Southwest Florida families and businesses still recovering from the storm, adding its strain on residents’ financial stability.

“We have fought to deliver relief to Florida families and businesses and ensure a rapid recovery from this deadly storm,” the letter said. “While we appreciated FEMA’s quick response in the immediate aftermath of the storm, we are discouraged by recent actions from the agency.”

Moreover, Scott further expressed it was “critical” that FEMA work with local leaders to ensure cost increases on Florida families and businesses would not take effect.

The ruling comes after FEMA issued a letter Monday to Lee County Director Dave Harner, informing them they were no longer in compliance with the National Floodplain Insurance Premium Program Minimum Floodplain Management Standards.

“Communities must be in compliance with the NFIP’s Minimum Floodplain Management Standards to
be eligible to participate in the CRS; therefore, your community is no longer eligible to participate in the CRS,” the letter read.