FEMA’s Re-mapping of Oklahoma – Stealing Home
oksafeinc | August 26, 2011 at 10:43 pm | URL: http://wp.me/pvYI8-aq
OK-SAFE recently had the opportunity to interview two Oklahomans about their encounters with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration, aka the Mob), local officials and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB). One successfully rebuffed the officials; the other was not so successful.
What was the issue? The designation of their (non-flooding) property as being in a flood zone, resulting in the devaluation of the property; the limitations on development of the land; the devaluation of the land as collateral; reducing the future sell-ability of said property; and the forced purchase of flood insurance for said property.
Listening to the accounts of these two separate incidents it appears that the maps being used to determine the flood zone designation are rather whimsical: it all depends on which map the agent is using, and whether you want to be designated as flood zone or not. The gentleman in the township of Skiatook, OK was actually presented with 3 different maps over the course of three days. He resisted the OWRB/FEMA efforts and they actually backed down.
This was not the case in Ramona, OK.
There, a family with 40 acres of property was surprised to find that their property was now designated as being ‘Zone A High Risk’ flood zone. The property has been in their family since 1946, has never flooded, and the land is actually mapped as upland agriculture. The result of the ‘Zone A High Risk’ flood zone designation has been a 50% decrease in the assessed value of their property.
FEMA and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board are using stealth methods to steal property in Oklahoma; in essence, they’re stealing home.
Listen to their stories on America in the Balance on Truth in Focus internet radio here. (http://www.truthinfocus.org/radio/america_in_the_balance.php)
For an excellent analysis of the FEMA/Oklahoma Water Resources Board activities and ties to sustainable development see article below posted on Axxiom For Liberty.
Oklahoma Water Resources Board/FEMA Flood Map Follies, by Kaye Beach.
August 24, 2011
America in the Balance, an internet radio program hosted by Amanda Teegarden (Exec. Director, OK-SAFE, Inc.) & Don Wyatt (Tulsa 912) did a very interesting show on the FEMA Flood mapping taking place in our state last Sunday.
Their two guests David McClain and Margaret Snow shared their experiences with FEMA and the new floodplain maps that are being drawn up in Oklahoma.
The two are looking for other Oklahomans who have had a similar experience with FEMA and their new maps. OK. Attorney General Scott Pruitt has agreed to take a look at documented instances of questionable FEMA flood re-designations. (Contact information can be found at the end of this article.)
These flood maps produced by FEMA will indicate which property owners must purchase flood insurance. Development is discouraged in the designated zones and building or development in the floodplains is often highly regulated
If you have had your property’s flood designation changed or had an encounter with FEMA or the Oklahoma Water Resources Board regarding floodplain designation, you will be interested in these two stories.
(Listen to the archived show here or read the summary I have written from the radio show interviews.)
Skiatook Township, David McLain
David McLain, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Skiatook tells Amanda and Don that a few weeks ago he noticed some officials taking measurements on his property. David approached the two gentlemen to find out what they were doing. The two identified themselves as being with FEMA and informed Mr. McClain that they were working on adjusting floodplain designations. One of the agents, Gavin Brady, although he introduced himself as being with FEMA, the business card he handed to David showed him as being with the Oklahoma Water Resource Board. The other agent is reported to be Matthew Rollins.
Curious as to why the man is representing both FEMA and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, I did a little searching and found that the OWRB is under a cooperative agreement with FEMA and is the coordinating state agency for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for the state of Oklahoma. link
Map Modernization
The OWRB website explains that this is a “Map Modernization” effort;
“Many of the nation’s flood hazard maps are outdated and no longer realistically depict the true flood risk. As a result, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is conducting a multi-year effort, the Map Modernization Program, to update these maps and present them in a more reliable digital format that is easily accessible to local and state floodplain officials” link
(For more about the FEMA/ Oklahoma Map Modernization program, click here.) (Rest of Kaye Beach article here.)
Original post by OK-SAFE here >>>
Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for R3publicans
Crossposted: OKgrassroots
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