WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve an application to lower flood insurance premiums for the Scranton communities of Albright Avenue, Plot and Green Ridge. In a letter sent today to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Senator Casey called for FEMA to approve an application by the City of Scranton to redesignate those communities as Zone A99 under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations.
“As you know, there are approximately 700 residential and commercial structures protected by this levee project,” wrote Senator Casey. “A Zone A99 designation will save these residents as much as 20 percent on their flood insurance. I believe it is imperative that this application be approved immediately so that residents can begin to realize the savings inherent in the change. In light of the large number of people affected by this decision, I urge you to grant Scranton’s application full and fair consideration and take into account the cumulative impact of a Zone A99 designation.”
Senator Casey has secured over $8 million for flood control projects in Lackawanna County. In the FY10, Senator Casey secured $484,000 for the Lackawanna River for the construction of a 100-year level of flood protection for two communities: Green Ridge and Plot. In FY09, he secured $4.576 million for the Lackawanna River Flood Control Project in Lackawanna County to support construction of a flood protection project for the City of Scranton. In FY08, he secured $ 3,217,680 for Lackawanna River-Scranton Flood Control Project in Lackawanna County for Completion of the Green Ridge section of the Scranton Flood Control Project.
Last year, Senator Casey secured $2,000,000 in FY11 funding for Lackawanna River Flood Control in Lackawanna County. However, this funding did not pass after congressionally-directed funding was removed from the budget.
The full text of Senator Casey’s letter to FEMA is below:
April 1, 2011
Mr. W. Craig Fugate
Administrator
The Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street, SW, Room 700
Washington, DC 20472
Dear Administrator Fugate:
I write to you today regarding an application to redesignate the Scranton, Pennsylvania communities of Albright Avenue, Plot and Green Ridge as Zone A99 on the agency’s rate maps. Given the financial implications to homeowners, I encourage the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to expedite its decision regarding this application.
Earlier this year, the City of Scranton sent an application requesting that FEMA make an “adequate progress” determination for Scranton’s Lackawanna River Flood Risk Management Project. Specifically, the city asked the agency to designate the Special Flood Hazard Area behind the communities of Albright Avenue, Plot and Green Ridge as Zone A99 on the preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Lackawanna Country, Pennsylvania. I believe that Scranton’s Federal levee project more than meets the requirements for a Zone A99 designation under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations.
As you know, there are approximately 700 residential and commercial structures protected by this levee project. A Zone A99 designation will save these residents as much as 20 percent on their flood insurance. I believe it is imperative that this application be approved immediately so that residents can begin to realize the savings inherent in the change.
In light of the large number of people affected by this decision, I urge you to grant Scranton’s application full and fair consideration and take into account the cumulative impact of a Zone A99 designation.
Thank you for your consideration of my request.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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