Justice of the Peace Chuck Olson introduced Trevor Timberlake, engineer and flood plain manager for the Arkansas Natural Resources Agency, to a standing room only crowd at the Monday Quorum Court meeting to explain how the National Flood Insurance Program works. Timberlake told the court private insurance companies have been unable to provide adequate flood insurance at a reasonable cost, so the federal government devised a plan administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Counties entered in the plan would receive not only insurance at a lower cost, but disaster relief during an emergency and grant opportunities. Non-member counties would not be eligible for these benefits. Timberlake said every county in Arkansas since 1969 has had a federally-designated flood disaster plan, but as many as five counties in northern Arkansas are not part of the plan.
According to Timberlake, each member county would have an administrator appointed to oversee the program. Usually, the position is not full-time, but the administrator has the responsibility of maintaining and protecting the flood plain areas from degradation. Olson mentioned the county would need to hire someone, but the Office of Emergency Management office could take on the duties.
JP Larry Swofford asked Timberlake if the administrator could prevent a farmer from building a new chicken house on his property. Timberlake replied if the construction violated federal law, he could.
JP Marty Johnson pointed out there is a $500 per day fine for violations, but if the county were not part of the plan, the farmer could build his chicken house.
Timberlake responded if the county wanted the benefit of assistance from FEMA there would need to be reasonable assurance there would be no damage to the flood plain.
A member of the audience asked if he would be able to bulldoze his driveway, and Timberlake told him the local administrator would decide.
“So you might not be able to do what you want on your own property?” was the reaction.
During Public Comments, Lisa Price-Backs passed around information about NFIP. She said farmers in the county do not want the plan. She claimed FEMA would remap the flood plain to include the entire county, and citizens would be forced to subsidize insurance for those who do not need it. “This is not going to help Carroll County,” she said.
JP Don McNeely noted FEMA is seriously over budget, and the flood insurance program expires in 2017. He said many people eligible for the plan are not covered, and there are not enough premiums going into the plan to cover the cost, so rates rise unreasonably. Therefore, taxpayers are paying for coverage for only a few people.
JP Jack Deaton said some citizens need the county to have this insurance and to others it is an inconvenience. He suggested they table the discussion until the September meeting. JPs would have a chance to study the information more thoroughly and make their decision then. The vote was unanimous to table the discussion.