West Virginia Lawmakers Raise Flood Insurance Concerns

West Virginia legislative leaders plan to talk to members of Congress about the rising cost of flood insurance.

House Speaker Tim Miley says state residents and small business owners have been hit with “shockingly high” flood insurance costs since Congress revised the National Flood Insurance Program in 2012. The changes were intended to bolster the program, which state officials say is deeply in debt after Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Katrina.

Del. Randy Swartzmiller of Hancock says many residents of low-risk inland areas are being hit with big premium increases to compensate for losses in coastline areas. He says that simply isn’t fair.

The Weirton Daily Times reports that lawmakers also plan to introduce a resolution shedding light on the problem and asking Congress to revisit the 2012 changes.