$120 million hospital project to officially break ground in east Manatee

Naples/Fort Myers/Charlotte

Flooding in: The work to restore Lee County’s flood insurance discount continues. County officials told commissioners last week that documentation had been submitted on 414 properties the Federal Emergency Management Agency had identified when it decided to downgrade the county’s rating in the National Flood Insurance Program. The downgrade, which affects the county and five localities, costs policyholders a 25% discount — about $300 per year. The county pushed back hard on the decision, accusing the federal agency of springing the news on local officials in March, this despite letters showing there was ample warnings dating back to last year that the ranking was at risk. For its part, FEMA says it is working with each of the communities to retain the rating — and the associated discount — with each getting 60 days to submit additional documentation. “We are in the process of reviewing all documentation and anticipate providing results by mid-July,” says FEMA spokesperson Lea Crager. 

Photo by Reagan Rule