11th annual short film festival coming to Punta GordaMild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun
PUNTA GORDA 11th annual short film festival coming to Punta Gorda The Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Visitor Convention Bureau will host its 11th annual short film festival.
the weather authority Mild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun The Weather Authority says a brief line of showers, associated with a cold front, is moving through Southwest Florida Saturday morning.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
CAPE CORAL CCPD cruiser damaged after officer involved crash An officer-involved crash leaves a Cape Coral police cruiser smashed.
PORT CHARLOTTE Sweet’s Diner in Port Charlotte reopens After months of fundraising and rebuilding, this diner, which had a car fly-through it, is back open.
FWC pushing to protect Florida’s endangered manatees Florida Fish and Wildlife is pushing to protect endangered manatees. One danger that animals face is when boats bash into them, leaving deep scars across their backs.
FORT MYERS The Fort Myers Fire Department looks towards new year Fighting fires is always top of mind for the Fort Myers Fire Department. The Fort Myers Fire Department leads the way when it comes to protecting your property when a fire breaks out.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA One step closer to decision on South Seas building density After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
PUNTA GORDA 11th annual short film festival coming to Punta Gorda The Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Visitor Convention Bureau will host its 11th annual short film festival.
the weather authority Mild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun The Weather Authority says a brief line of showers, associated with a cold front, is moving through Southwest Florida Saturday morning.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
CAPE CORAL CCPD cruiser damaged after officer involved crash An officer-involved crash leaves a Cape Coral police cruiser smashed.
PORT CHARLOTTE Sweet’s Diner in Port Charlotte reopens After months of fundraising and rebuilding, this diner, which had a car fly-through it, is back open.
FWC pushing to protect Florida’s endangered manatees Florida Fish and Wildlife is pushing to protect endangered manatees. One danger that animals face is when boats bash into them, leaving deep scars across their backs.
FORT MYERS The Fort Myers Fire Department looks towards new year Fighting fires is always top of mind for the Fort Myers Fire Department. The Fort Myers Fire Department leads the way when it comes to protecting your property when a fire breaks out.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA One step closer to decision on South Seas building density After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
(AP Photo/Steve Helber) A revamped U.S. flood insurance program going into effect this month will charge rates the federal government says better reflect a home’s risk, a change that could mean higher premiums for coastal mansions and — for the first time — reduced rates for others. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says its new formula means owners of lower-cost homes will no longer be subsidizing the flood risk for pricier, waterfront properties. “This is about fairness,” says Craig Fugate, former FEMA administrator under President Barack Obama. “People should be paying what their risk is.” The FEMA program is often the only flood insurance available in areas vulnerable to hurricanes and heavy rains, such as Louisiana’s Gulf Coast. The agency underwrites the policies, which homeowners can buy through private insurance companies. The new pricing method — known as Risk Rating 2.0 — takes effect Friday for new policies. Existing policyholders will see changes in April, but those up for renewal can apply for lower rates right away. HOW IS THE NEW PROGRAM DIFFERENT? It factors in more variables in determining a home’s flood risk. Previously, rates were based largely on a property’s elevation and whether it was built in a designated flood zone, which FEMA defines as having a 1% chance of being flooded in any given year. But many experts say that didn’t accurately capture flood risk, noting many communities damaged in recent hurricanes were not in such areas. The new program takes into account different kinds of flooding that can damage property — including overflow from a river, storm surge, coastal erosion and heavy rainfall — as well as how far a home is from a water source. Another new factor: the estimated cost for rebuilding after damage. Since smaller homes cost less to replace, FEMA says the change will lead to fairer pricing. WHO WILL BE AFFECTED? About 3.4 million single-family homes have policies under the FEMA program, which also serves businesses and renters. The average annual premium is $739. Under the new program, about 625,000 single-family homeowners will see their rates decline, which hasn’t happened before in the program’s more than 50-year history. Rates for the rest will stay about the same or go up, according to FEMA. Increases are limited to 18% a year. Most of the rate hikes in the first year won’t exceed $120, though about 3% of policies will go up by more than $240 and keep rising until a new target price for the plan is reached. But the total cost for a single-family homeowner can no longer exceed $12,125, a cap that could bring relief to some. Previously, the highest premium was $45,925. Coastal areas in California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina and Texas will see the biggest changes. Among the most affected areas is Texas’ sprawling Harris County, which encompasses Houston and was badly damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. In Louisiana, New Orleans and surrounding areas recently struck by Hurricane Ida will see changes. WHO WILL SEE RATES JUMP? Relatively few policyholders will see big increases. But for those that do, the jump could be significant. John Case, co-owner of the Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien insurance agency in Louisiana, says one policy on a duplex he checked will eventually rise from about $625 to more than $4,500 a year. “We’re hoping that the severity of this has not hit home yet and that there will be some reconsideration,” Case says, adding that flooding is such an expensive risk that insurance for it needs to be subsidized, a principle of the federal program he says is getting lost in the new pricing method. Joel Scata, a water and climate attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, says more accurate rates will lead to more informed development decisions. He says FEMA’s old approach hid the true cost of flooding. “If you don’t know what your flood risk is, you can’t take action to protect yourself,” Scata says. HOW DO HOMEOWNERS KNOW IF THEIR RATES WILL CHANGE? So far, FEMA has only released information on price changes for the first year, and has not disclosed the eventual full cost of the policies. Contacting an insurance broker is the best way to know how the changes affect a new policy or a renewal. “It is a good idea to get in touch with your agent now and say, ’what can I expect so I can plan ahead,” says Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, which advocates for insurance consumers. Homeowners can also visit FEMA’s floodsmart.gov site for general information about the program, what it covers and how to purchase insurance. DID ANYONE OPPOSE THE CHANGE? A bipartisan group of senators representing coastal states expressed concern over the change, saying that some policyholders could end up dropping coverage and exposing themselves to risk if rates are too high. Properties owners outside of designated flood zones often aren’t required to buy coverage, but sometimes do. In flood zones, homeowners must buy flood insurance if they have a federally-backed mortgage, and many private banks require it too.