CRANSTON – The R.I. Emergency Management Agency will host a series of public information sessions on recent changes to federal flood insurance policies in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, RIEMA announced Friday.
The meetings are aimed at clarifying the upcoming changes to flood insurance passed when the National Flood Insurance Program was reauthorized in July 2012.
The changes phased out a number of discounts and subsidized rates that were “no longer sustainable,” according to a release. Those included subsidized rates for non-primary homes, businesses, and properties that have sustained severe or repeated flooding. The reforms also will phase out grandfathered rates, replacing them with new rates based on the risk of flooding.
The phase-out will take place in 20 percent increments over the next five years.
To help Rhode Islanders understand how the changes will affect them, RIEMA and FEMA will host a series of meetings on the reforms as well as current re-mapping efforts. The meeting schedule is below.
- Bristol County
Sept. 26
Barrington Town Hall Auditorium
283 County Road, Barrington
4:00 – 9:00 p.m. - Kent County & Providence County
Aug. 28
Warwick City Hall, Council Chambers
3275 Post Road, Warwick
4:00 – 9:00 p.m. - Newport County
Sept. 10
Newport Public Library
300 Spring St., Newport
4:00 – 8:00 p.m. - Washington County
Sept. 17
Narragansett Town Hall, Council Chambers
25 Fifth Ave., Narragansett
4:00 – 9:00 p.m.