10/11/2023
🛑INSURANCE,INSURANCE, INSURANCE🛑
WHAT CAN A PARISH PRESIDENT DO?
Eighteen years ago, a group of residents rallied together at the Civic Center and answered a call to action for flood protection. We had no levee protection at that time. Governor Blanco flew in that day and gave us our first $10 million check for Morganza. Eighteen years later, we have over 72 miles of levees and numerous floodgates and flood control structures. Terrebonne Parish cannot wait 18 years, and we need to start pleading for help now.
Wind/Hail
I have been associated with the Legislature for over 30 years. I even worked as an aide in the Senate for four years, so I understand the process. Over the last ten years, I have served on the state Board of Realtors, five of them as State Legislative Director, representing 16,000 members fighting to protect property rights. Through the years, I have built strong relationships up with many leaders in the Legislature. I've participated in sit-down meetings with all major gubernatorial, attorney general, and treasurer candidates, as well as the new Insurance Commissioner, and the chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee. They all agreed that they will need Terrebonne and Lafourche’s input and that we will have a seat at the table to create some solutions when they call the special session at the beginning of next year. Some of the ideas proposed to lower premiums included setting up a "wind pool" program that lets all residents pay into a fund that will become a reinsurance carrier in the hopes of luring back policy underwriters (similar to existing programs in Texas, Mississippi, and Florida); letting companies write higher deductibles (i.e., 20 percent) and letting citizens backfill the remaining cost; expanding Louisiana's fortified home/roof program to recognize the additional costs of having a fortified roof in home appraisals; working with local insurance agencies and builders to push the fortified roof program; and allowing the use of drones to take pictures during the construction process to speed up inspections later on. These options could help reduce insurance rates in the near-term future and, though not able to fully solve the problem, are better than just hoping another storm doesn't hit so that the reinsurance market can be rebuilt. Over the longer term, state and local codes will need to be addressed.
Flood Insurance
Serving as the Legislative Director also allowed me to build great relationships with our federal delegation over the last ten years. I traveled to Washington numerous times to discuss flood policies with the delegation members. As Parish President, I will continue the lawsuit against FEMA 2.0 sham! FEMA 2.0 does not recognize any of our levees. I will work with the federal delegation to least get FEMA to recognize 12 feet in height under the new policy, since we have data showing that the levees hold back at least ten feet of water. In addition, I will remodel areas that were not in a flood zone but now are. FEMA stopped calculating the impact of any improvements since 2019. We will recalculate any and all drainage improvements that were made from 2019 to 2023, which are quite extensive. We will work locally with our local agents to show how each individual can protest the maps on each particular property and try to get them relief sooner than later. I have held numerous discussions with Archie Chassion, and Matt Jewell from Saint Charles Parish on potential lawsuits against the federal government on behalf of our three parishes. Saint Charles is actually in a lawsuit right now, though Terrebonne is not involved in this particular case. I have met with those attorneys and will look into adding Terrebonne Parish to the suit if elected.
