The Fort Bend Levee Coalition (FBLC), formerly known as the Fort Bend Flood Management Committee (FBFMC), is committed to ensuring affordable, voluntary flood insurance for 100-year accredited levee protected areas throughout Fort Bend County.
With the support of Fort Bend County, the FBLC champions affordable flood insurance for residents. Since the implementation of Risk Rating 2.0 (RR 2.0) in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in April 2022, the Coalition has been actively working on three key fronts:
- Working within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) System: The FBLC is committed to securing the best possible outcomes for levee districts and residents through collaboration with FEMA.
- Legislative Advocacy: The Coalition is working to ensure fair treatment for Fort Bend County in federal regulations and to hold FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) accountable for following proper procedures.
- Legal Action: When necessary, the FBLC will seek legal remedies to address situations that threaten the availability and affordability of flood insurance.
The Fort Bend Levee Coalition (FBLC) has achieved significant success in maximizing flood insurance discounts for residents. Through a review of the CRS program within Sugar Land and Missouri City, the Coalition identified discrepancies and successfully increased discounts for several Levee Improvement Districts (LIDs), potentially saving residents 15-25% on flood insurance premiums. Similar efforts are underway for other districts.
The FBLC is also pushing for further savings by urging FEMA to update its Levee Quality Factor data. This update could reflect the high level of protection provided by Fort Bend County’s levees and result in additional savings of up to 26% for policyholders.
For 2024-2025 the FBLC will be closely monitoring the Technical Mapping Advisory Council’s (TMAC) recent recommendation to FEMA to move from a 50% confidence level to a 95% confidence level in base flood elevation (BFE). This would move the 100-year flood plain requirement to as much as a 500-year. This could mean mandatory flood insurance where Federal loan standards apply, hugely impacting Fort Bend County.
The FBLC emphasizes the importance of widespread participation from levee districts. The benefits of strong levee coalition are undeniable, with LID-protected properties representing approximately 25% of the total value of Fort Bend County. The Coalition encourages all levee districts to join its efforts in securing affordable flood insurance and protecting property values for residents.
For more information on the FBLC, you can contact Jamie Loasby, FBLC Coordinator, at 281-566-2163 or jamie@fortbendcc.org.
About the Fort Bend Levee Coalition
The Fort Bend Levee Coalition (formerly Flood Management Committee) unites residents with a powerful voice to advocate for levees. These crucial flood protections shield over $35 billion in property and 150,000 residents. Locally built and maintained, nearly 100 miles of levees safeguard approximately 25% of Fort Bend’s value. Collaboration across counties, cities, and districts ensures levee effectiveness for a sustainable Fort Bend County.
About the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce
The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce is 5-star accredited and the largest single-county chamber in the greater Houston region representing over 1,000 business organizations, over 5,000 individuals, and over 200,000 jobs. As the advocate for excellence in Fort Bend County and beyond, we do essential work to protect the business interests in our region. The organization has been able, over the last 50 years, to be a strong and successful voice for business due to the solid and impressive investment of our members. The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce creates, enhances and promotes the dynamic environment in which we work and live.