The website includes a tool to give people an idea of what flood insurance would cost on their home — just punch in an address and answer a couple of questions and it will give an estimate.
But the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced earlier this year they were overhauling how they determine risk on flood insurance policies. The move was meant to make things more equitable but that also came with an average increase to premiums for policyholders.
HRPDC officials announced Monday GetFloodFluent.org has been updated to provide estimates with the federal government’s new risk assessment standards and rates.
In a statement HRPDC Chief Resilience Officer Ben McFarlane said the insurance estimator will help Hampton Roads residents “obtain a more targeted and unique estimate.”
Meanwhile, Virginia has joined nine other states in suing FEMA over the increased rates.
The suit - filed by 10 Republican attorneys general - claims the agency is exceeding its authority and hasn’t factored in local flood mitigation efforts.
It claims many coastal areas are seeing rates double or worse. Some areas of Louisiana would see 500% increases.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry told NPR the rate hikes would price some residents out of their homes.
"This policy is completely disrupting to the housing market and business climate of our state,” Landry said.
