Matsui Statement Regarding Recent FEMA Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 10, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 302-3249

CA Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-Sacramento) issued the following statement today about the potential implications that the City of Sacramento's actions in wrongfully granting building permits in Natomas may have on her constituents, and the region as a whole:

I was outraged when I learned about the City of Sacramento's Development Department transfer of existing Natomas permits. I have worked incredibly hard with my colleagues for a number of years to improve Sacramento's level of flood protection, and pushed for the lowest insurance rates possible from FEMA. We were successful in doing so because of Sacramento's stellar reputation in floodplain management.

It is for these reasons that I strongly urge the City of Sacramento to comply with FEMA's request to submit a robust remediation plan within sixty days. Failure to do so could severely compromise, and even derail, the ongoing efforts to minimize flood risk and lower insurance rates. The City must take this opportunity to demonstrate to FEMA that the City has rectified what must be an isolated incident.

It is my hope that the City will follow federal regulations and its own floodplain management plan going forward. For the sake of 15,000 policy holders the City of Sacramento who currently receive a discounted flood insurance rate, City leaders cannot afford to ignore this problem and need to take the necessary steps to correct it.

Especially in these tough economic times, when Sacramentans are already struggling to make their payments and make ends meet, it is incumbent upon the City's staff and elected officials to avoid the repercussions of increasing the flood insurance rates of our constituents by $1.4 million. This matter necessitates immediate attention, and I stand ready to assist the City as best I can in the coming days to meet the impending deadline.