Louisiana Councilor Lobbies Against Flood Insurance Hikes in Washington

An Ascension Parish councilman is heading to Washington, D.C., next week to lobby against an increase of premium rates for National Flood Insurance Program policyholders.

The Advocate reported Councilman Randy Clouatre plans to meet with members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation to ask them to hold off any changes to the program, which would have a major impact on south Louisiana.

Legislation was signed into law last summer to help revamp the cash-strapped insurance program, which could see some policyholders’ rates increased by up to 25 percent during the next five years.

The Parish Council approved a resolution for Clouatre to take with him asking Congress not to increase any insurance rates.

Councilman Kent Schexnaydre said the new policy would remove any grandfathering provisions for people who build homes out of current floodplains if those measurements change in the future.

The change could “substantially increase your flood insurance and get to the point for some people where it would be cost prohibitive,” Schexnaydre said.

Clouatre said there are between 19 and 23 parishes in the state that will be affected by the change, while Parish President Tommy Martinez said it would affect many people in the parish.

“I’m not quite sure, but I would say about 33 percent of our parish would be affected if this passes,” Martinez said. “We need to make sure we do everything possible that we can to make sure this doesn’t happen.”