ST. CHARLES PARISH, La. — St. Charles Parish President Matt Jewell claims there appears to be two FEMA risk models, one for Louisiana and one for the rest of the country.
“I think it’s very telling when you look at how the premiums are distributed,” Jewell said.
Last year, the parish sued FEMA for public records related to how sharp increases in federal flood premiums across south Louisiana are being calculated.
According to Jewell, documents the parish has received and analyzed so far – point to price inconsistencies under FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0.
“One of the examples we use, is like either Mississippi or South Carolina, if all things being equal, your house is a slab on grade and you’re ten miles from the coast and all other factors are the same, in Louisiana you get a three times base premium then you do in another state,” Jewell said.
Having to potentially pay three times more for flood insurance doesn’t sit well with homeowners like Tommy Phillips in Boutte.
“Totally unfair,” Phillips said. “That’s part of the transparency, why. Why are we paying more.”
Phillips’ flood premiums have skyrocketed like most property owners across south Louisiana.
He says FEMA did not give St. Charles parish credit for risk mitigation projects such as the new levee built behind his house.
“My price went from somewhere in the $400 range a year to what is expected to be $8,400 a year.”
Jewell says that once the parish is done sifting through all of the documents it received, it plans to use the findings to bolster an ongoing lawsuit between south Louisiana parishes and FEMA. The suit seeks to halt FEMA’s new pricing system for flood insurance.
“I’ve asked FEMA to do one of two things, either put the rest of the nation in this model where they can pay three times more and we can all be on the same page or put us with everybody else,” Jewell said. “That’s the only fair way to do it.”
We reached out to FEMA for comment about the Risk Rating 2.0 findings.
The agency said it does not comment on active or pending litigation.
Congressman Steve Scalise commented on Jewell's revelation, saying, “FEMA implemented the ill-conceived Risk Rating 2.0 before it was ready for prime time and, as a result, families across Louisiana and throughout the nation are dealing with the devastating consequences. I’ve started a congressional investigation and support President Jewell’s leadership in working to uncover more on Risk Rating’s methodology and detrimental impacts to areas like South Louisiana. FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 has continued to be secretive and is jeopardizing the stability of the entire National Flood Insurance Program.
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