Oregon communities--including yours--must meet strict new requirements by December 1, 2024, to continue participating in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). To maintain access to NFIP, Oregon communities in virtually the entire state must choose between 1) prohibiting floodplain development, 2) adopting a "no net loss" ordinance, or 3) requiring detailed habitat assessments for new projects. Each of these options will present substantial challenges to local communities and landowners through the disruption of property rights, insurance access, and local development.
Make no mistake, the December 1 deadline is arbitrary and was adopted by FEMA in response to legal actions initiated by activist groups as far back as 2009 and their subsequent pressure and litigation. The effort to abbreviate the environmental review currently underway between FEMA and other federal agencies is unnecessary and will create substantial unintended consequences for hard-working Oregonians and communities across the state.
With this in mind, we ask you to make your voice heard by your elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels as soon as possible and while it can still make a difference! Please take a moment to send the attached letter to your elected officials (click the "Act Now" button above), urging them to contact FEMA leadership and discourage them from pulling the plug on the environmental review and accelerating this onerous regulatory burden. If you have examples available of how these FEMA mandates will negatively affect your home or business, please include them.
The repercussions and negative impacts of this artificial FEMA mandate are far-reaching, as evidenced by the formation of Oregonians for Floodplain Protection (OFP), of which the Oregon Farm Bureau is an active member. For additional information, context, and background information, please visit https://floodplainprotection.org/. If you need assistance submitting comments, please feel free to contact Ryan Krabill at ryan@oregonfb.org.
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