august6 2015
VERNONIA’S
volume9 issue15
www.vernoniasvoice.com
reflecting the spirit of our community
Changes to Flood Insurance
Rules Offer Consumers Options
By Scott Laird
free
requiring premiums to reflect real flood risks.
The result was a huge increase in premiums.
After the new law took effect,
lawmakers realized the new policy rates would
be extremely burdensome for property owners
and enacted the Homeowner Flood Insurance
Affordability Act (HFIA). Although the
HFIA did offer homeowners some relief from
huge premiums increases, most NFIP policy
holders still saw a significant rate increase this
past spring.
“Most people think that it stopped the
huge rate increases and reversed everything
but it only slowed the train down and shifted
the premium burdens,” says Gail Moldovan-
Trujillo, an insurance agent and flood
specialist at Hagen Hamilton Insurance in
Newburg. “Instead of people getting hit with
high premiums right out of the gate they will
now see rate increases between 15% and 18%
a year, plus additional fees of 5%-15% to pay
back FEMA’s deficit. Those people that own
businesses or have a secondary home or an
out building also get hit with an additional
$250 fee.”
Moldovan-Trujillo is known as a
flood insurance expert in the State of Oregon.
She has worked as a flood consultant for
cities and counties and has also taught flood
insurance guidelines to other insurance
agents. She heads the team of insurance
agents specializing in flood insurance at
Hagen Hamilton, who also have offices in St.
City Water
Curtailment in Effect.
No outside watering.
For property owners that are required
See page 15 for more details.
to maintain flood insurance through the
National Flood Insurance Program, the rules
changed dramatically this past spring. Many
home owners are not even aware of the
changes. While federal flood insurance policy
holders all saw increases to their premiums
because of these revisions, there are also
Local Boy Scouts William
The Anderson Park play
changes to the federal rules that might provide
Scheuerman and Jared Medearis structure is a heavily used park
relief for some consumers.
have both done another good deed feature by both guests at the RV
The Homeowner Flood Insurance
for the citizens and community of Park and local families.
Affordability Act, which was signed into
Vernonia.
Medearis was working
law in March of 2014 and took effect April
1, 2015, did several things. It repeals and
modifies certain provisions of the Biggert-
Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, which
was enacted in 2012. It also opened the doors
for the first time to allow private market
insurance carriers to write and sell flood
insurance policies and could provide huge
saving for some property owners.
The National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP) was created in 1968
to provide homeowners in participating
communities in high risk areas with the ability
to purchase flood insurance through the
government at established rates. The program
serves approximately 5.5 million properties
William Scheuerman organized volunteers to repair
the play structure at Anderson Park.
nationwide. Many homeowners in high risk
areas are required to carry flood insurance in
Both scouts chose to on his project to clean up the area
order to qualify for mortgage lending.
complete
their Eagle Scout around the covered play structure
Critics of the NFIP maintain the
continued on page 8
Projects to make improvements to
at the old school grounds. The
program
encourages
Vernonia Parks. Scheuerman and area will be part of the new
homeowners to rebuild
Medearis are members of Scout Spencer Park. Medearis and his
in areas prone to natural
Troop 860.
volunteer crew were working to
disasters. The program
Scheuerman
completed
clean the basketball court, repaint
is currently $24 million
his project this spring, making lines, remove graffiti, clean the
in debt, which forced the
some much needed repairs to the play structure, replace bark chips,
need for some type of
wooden play structure at Anderson and weed the new softball field.
reform.
Park. Scheuerman and his crew Medearis was hustling to complete
The
Biggert–
of volunteers replaced rotting his clean up in time for the Spencer
Waters Flood Insurance
boards, painted sections of the Park Grand Opening celebration
Reform Act of 2012
structure, did work to stabilize the scheduled to take place Saturday,
attempted to provide that
structure, and made some other August 8 at 9:00 am.
reform. It was designed
to allow premiums to rise
needed repairs.
and reflect the true risk of
living in high-flood areas, as well as
deal with the insolvency of the NFIP by
The Vernonia Area Chamber of Commerce is a very hosting quarterly Bunco games at the Cabin in Vernonia.
diverse organization that works as a catalyst through many
The Chamber Board of Directors is currently in need
different channels to promote growth for local business of three more general board members: two members serving
members and improve the economic vitality of the region. for a term of two years (2015-2017) and one member serving
The Chamber, with several new and active members, for a term of one year (2015-2016).
has been very busy during the last several years. They have
General member meetings are held the second
partnered with several other established groups to help local Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm at the New Hong Kong
vernonia
events be more successful, including The Spirit of Christmas restaurant. Board meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the
health center
in Vernonia, and held the first Vernonia Ugly Christmas month at rotating members’ places of business.
Sweater Run this past winter. They also worked with Vernonia Current Officers are:
Pride to do several clean-up and beautification projects, and President – Nicole Larke – Individual Member
for the love
with the Vernonia Pioneer Museum to take on the Historic Vice President 1 – Joshua Johnson – U.S. Bank
of the game
Walking Tour Booklet. They are currently working with a Vice President 2 – Camrin Eyrrick – Scentsy Independent
local high school student on her senior project to design and Consultant
create a new map of the community, and the Chamber is in Secretary – Betsy Miller – L.L. Stub Stewart State Park/
another round
the process of developing a community grant. The Chamber Banks-Vernonia State Trail
is also providing advertising and other assistance for all local Treasurer – Barbara Norman – Wauna Federal Credit Union
festivals.
General Board Member – Sarah Burns – R&S Market
In addition, this year the Chamber will take over Current Staff are:
4-h at fair
organizing the annual Vernonia Halloween Costume Chamber Communications Specialist - Nicholas Welch
Sidewalk Parade, and also has taken on organizing the 4 th of
If interested in joining the Chamber or serving on the
July Parade.
Board of Directors, please contact the Chamber via phone at
This past year the Chamber brought the 503-429-6081 or via email at vernoniachamberofcommerce@
Culpepper & Merriweather Circus to town and also began gmail.com.
Eagle Scout Projects
Benefit Vernonia Parks
Active Vernonia Chamber Seeks Board Members
inside
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