Florida AG Blasts FEMA's Devastating Roadblocks to Hurricane Recovery

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is taking a stand against federal bureaucracy, demanding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lift crushing regulations that are preventing families devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton from rebuilding their lives.

According to Moody's press release which was sent out this morning, strict rules under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are creating hurdles, leaving some Floridians unable to repair or rebuild their homes. Moody is calling on FEMA to ease these restrictions and offer solutions to prevent families from being forced out of the communities they cherish.

“Florida was recently devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, leaving some Floridians with only debris in the places where homes once stood. While the recovery process has begun, burdensome regulations are making it so people cannot afford to repair damage and could force them to leave the communities they love. I’m calling on FEMA to ease the burden on these families who are struggling to rebuild on limited budgets.”

In a fiery letter to Acting Federal Insurance Assistant Administrator Jeffery Jackson, Moody furthers the impact of FEMA's policies:

"While the rebuilding process continues, a disturbing issue has come to light. Many homes affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton are participants in the National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP), which is administered by FEMA. According to multiple reports, NFIP regulations are preventing many of these homes from being rebuilt or repaired. According to NFIP regulations, homes that need ‘substantial improvements’ must be rebuilt to specific flood-resistant building code standards…Essentially, this means that if a citizen has any damage to their home that would cost half the pre-storm value of their home to be repaired, no other work on the home can be performed without updating the entire home to NFIP’s specifications."

Moody warns that without immediate action, countless families will abandon their homes and communities, leaving behind not just property but lifetimes of memories.

“While it is preferable for any home to be built to the most current standards, many of those suffering most from the storms lived in older homes in low-income areas and do not have the resources to fundamentally rebuild their homes…In circumstances like this, many people will simply abandon their home and, possibly, have no choice but to leave the community they love altogether.”

To read Attorney General Moody’s full letter and join the fight for Florida’s recovery, click here.