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<br />. Posting should be required on real estate signs in high-flood hazard areas. <br /> <br />. Make conditions for disaster assistance. <br /> <br />. Flood insurance should be required behind levees. <br /> <br />. At least 3 feet of freeboard should be required. <br /> <br />Frank H. Thomas, Federal Emergency Management Agency, retired <br /> <br />Mr. Thomas indicated that the allowance offill in the floodplain has resulted in adverse <br />consequences. <br /> <br />. Fill reallocates flood storage from the fill site to other locations in the floodplain, thereby <br />transferring the flood hazard and altering the risk for other floodplain properties. <br /> <br />. The cumulative effect offill degrades the accuracy of the flood maps. <br /> <br />. The Flood Insurance Fund incurs a significant loss of premiums due to LOMRs. <br /> <br />· Fill in the floodplain disrupts and degrades the natural and cultural resources associated with <br />water supply quality and storage, wildlife habitat, etc. <br /> <br />· LOMR-Fs discourage local enforcement and undermine the fundamental NFIP statutory <br />responsibility to reduce flood risks and losses. <br /> <br />Mr. Thomas recommended that the current policy to permit LOMR-Fs be reversed immediately. <br />A policy change to terminate LOMR-Fs must assure all program constituents of fair and <br />equitable treatment and be pursued using full due process of rulemaking. <br /> <br />M. Rita Hollada, Chairman, Flood Insurance Producers National Committee <br /> <br />Ms. Hollada pointed out that although flood damage, like fire and wind damage, is experienced <br />throughout the country, few people insure against it. She indicated that the key to increasing the <br />level of participation is education, simplification, and incentives. Although Project Impact, the <br />CRS, and the Cover America Program have started this process, more education for homeowners <br />and agents is needed. <br /> <br />Ms. Hollada suggested a shift in thinking away from the concept of "flood" to the concept of <br />"water." Floods are what happen along rivers and oceans. High water can happen anywhere <br />because of poor drainage or blocked storm drains and gutters. The Nation needs a Be Flood <br />Alert public education campaign. <br /> <br />Simplification is also key. The current program is too complex, maps are out of date and <br />inaccurate, getting elevation certificates is too cumbersome, policy jargon does not parallel other <br />insurance documents, rules are obscure, and payouts rarely cover the full amount of the loss. <br /> <br />Floodplain Management Fornm <br /> <br />21 <br />