Congressman Andy Harris Applauds FEMA for Resolving Ocean City Flood Maps

SALISBURY, MD: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) issued to revise flood hazard mapping in the Town of Ocean City:

“FEMA’s announcement is a crucial win for Ocean City and will allow the town to finally resolve the flood map issue. We have been working diligently with the Town of Ocean City, FEMA, as well as local officials to ensure that the hard working people on the Shore are not forced to pay unnecessarily high insurance rates. I applaud FEMA for working with us to correct this expensive error.”

Last year, FEMA issued new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the Town of Ocean City, incorrectly mapping a flood zone, and forcing property owners to unfairly pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary flood insurance premiums. Congressman Harris has been working with the Town of Ocean City, FEMA, as well as several local officials since April to rectify the situation.

With the issuance of this LOMR, FEMA has stated, “This revision is based on updating the delineation of the primary frontal dune to include the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Atlantic Coast of Maryland Storm Protection Project and excludes the secondary dunes that are non-continuous, private landscape areas.” 

Timeline of Congressman Harris’ work with Ocean City and FEMA:

April 28 – Letter to Congressman Harris from Ocean City outlining issue.

May 4 – Congressman Harris met with Mayor of Ocean City and Town Engineer to discuss FEMA FIRM issue.

May 25 – Letter to FEMA from Congressman Harris.

June 24 – FEMA response letter to Congressman Harris. 

Aug 3 – Congressman Harris letter for FEMA Re: the issue remaining unresolved.

Aug 22 – FEMA response letter to Congressman Harris.

September 1 – Ocean City submits LOMR.

Sept 7 – Congressman Harris letter to FEMA supporting Ocean City’s LOMR.