The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host public meetings in counties across Rhode Island to educate residents on National Flood Insurance Program reforms. The first meeting, covering Providence County and Kent County, is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, August 28, 2013, from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Warwick City Hall, Council Chambers, located at 3275 Post Road in Warwick.
In July 2012, the U.S. Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed into law the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, which reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federal program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through September 30, 2017.
The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act requires significant program reforms and changes to all major components of the program, including flood insurance, flood hazard mapping, grants and the management of flood plains, aimed at making the program more financially and structurally sound. The new law aims to reflect full risk, and phase out subsidized rates for certain types of policies, including non-primary/secondary homes, businesses, and properties that have sustained severe or repeated flooding.
In addition to tonight's 4 p.m. meeting, additional meetings are scheduled throughout the month of September:
Newport County: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Newport Public Library, 300 Spring Street, Newport
Washington County: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Narragansett Town Hall, Council Chambers, 25 Fifth Avenue, Narragansett
Bristol County: Thursday, September 26, 2013 from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Barrington Town Hall, Auditorium, 283 County Road, Barrington