WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today released the following statement about the acceptance of the Town of Marana’s floodplain maps by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Acceptance of Marana’s floodplain study by FEMA represents the triumph of Arizona common sense over heavy-handed Washington decision-making.
In September 2007, my constituents in Marana were confronted with a significant challenge. FEMA had issued draft maps that inappropriately put 19 square miles of the town in a proposed new floodplain. The town maintained – and I wholeheartedly agreed – that the maps were flawed because they ignored the potential flood mitigation effects of three man-made structures: the Central Arizona Project Canal, Union Pacific Railroad tracks and Interstate 10. Clearly, something had to be done.
Homeowners, members of the businesses community and town officials rallied together to make sure their voices were heard in Washington. Working with the community and Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, I am pleased to have helped convince FEMA that Marana should be given time to conduct their own study. FEMA consented and that study, using a detailed hydrological and engineering analysis, determined that only three square miles of Marana properly belong in the floodplain.
Local governments often know best how to deal with issues in their own backyard. It took a year and a half, but FEMA’s acceptance of Marana’s floodplain maps proves that point in a graphic way. As a result of this decision, thousands of homeowners and businesses will not be required to pay for unnecessary flood insurance. This is a significant victory, particularly in these difficult economic times.