Florida Residents Talk Flood Insurance

Alarmed and angered by soaring flood insurance rates, Manatee and Sarasota residents jammed a meeting held by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan.

The Friday meeting drew several dozen people who are alarmed about a significant overhaul of the much-criticized program that passed last year with sweeping support.

Along the Gulf Coast, higher rates threaten to push some people out of their homes.

The Bradenton Herald reports Buchanan, R-Sarasota, tried to reassure the crowd, that a bipartisan effort is afoot to delay implementation of flood insurance hikes.

The lawmaker said he’s heard of increases of 300 to 400 percent, and 1,000 percent, and an estimated 30,000 people in Manatee-Sarasota are directly affected.

Florida has the most flood insurance policies in the nation and the second largest number of claims since 1978.