COUPEVILLE, Wash. — Some Island County residents will soon be paying a premium for flood insurance.
FEMA announced Tuesday that Unincorporated Island County will be placed on probationary status with the National Flood Insurance Program on March 30 unless they improve their floodplain management program.
During a visit in 2013, FEMA officials say they found several construction and planning violations.
The county’s floodplain management regulations did not meet the agency’s criteria, and their permitting process did not ensure developments within hazardous flood plain areas were in compliance with the program.
Flood insurance will remain available during the probationary period, but there will be a $50 surcharge on each new and renewed flood insurance policy sold within the county’s unincorporated areas for at least a year.