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County To Crack Down On Flood Zone Violators
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Published: November 27, 2007
NEW PORT RICHEY FL - NEW PORT RICHEY FL - Pasco County might crack down on flood zone violators in coastal homes to protect a 15 percent discount on flood insurance policies here.
The county will go ahead with at least 130 cases referred by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, county commissioners determined today.
Without action, flood insurance could get more expensive for all residents, commissioners reasoned.
That could be the tip of the iceberg, Commissioner Michael Cox believes. He suspects there might be thousands of such violations in the area.
"This is a much bigger issue than anybody wants to admit," Cox said.
Residents have illegally built living quarters on ground floors of homes in flood-prone areas, Assistant County Attorney Joe Richards explained.
Flood zone rules, called "base flood elevation," typically require elevation of the living area, with only garages or storage allowed on the ground floor.
In some cases, buyers have inherited problem homes without realizing it, Richards said.
"We're opening a big, huge can of worms here," Cox predicted. He wouldn't be surprised if more coastal residents are in violation than in compliance.
A National Catastrophic Insurance Fund might be part of the solution, Commissioner Jack Mariano observed.
One catastrophe fund proposal would combine wind damage coverage with existing flood insurance.
"We really could save our citizens a fortune," Mariano predicted.
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