FEMA Plans Likely to Impact Building Costs
FEMA is proposing sweeping changes to the National Flood Insurance Program that could have a major impact on Oregon communities. The agency is seeking public comment on how the Endangered Species Act will be integrated into floodplain management. Locally, Florence City Council has continued its public hearing on updates to the city’s floodplain code until November 17th. But under a new plan, FEMA could require costly mitigation measures in floodplain areas—rules that critics say would raise the cost of building homes and businesses by tens of thousands of dollars. Farmers, ports, and even homeowners making repairs could face higher costs and new restrictions. Communities that refuse to adopt the standards risk losing eligibility for federal flood insurance and disaster aid. FEMA has outlined three alternatives, with the least restrictive—Alternative One—allowing the program to continue without costly changes. Public comments are being accepted through October 6th. And organizers stress the importance of attending FEMA’s final public meeting, happening September 30th from 6 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.
Gas Prices Start to Dip
Gas prices in Oregon and Washington are finally easing as the Olympic Pipeline returns to service. The line had been offline since about September 2, tightening supply and driving sharp price hikes. Now, with operations restored and stations switching to the less-expensive winter-blend fuel, costs are beginning to come down. According to Marie Dodds with AAA Oregon/Idaho, the outage earlier this month pushed supplies to the limit and left drivers feeling the pinch at the pump. She says prices should continue to decline in the coming weeks, thanks in part to the switch to winter-blend gasoline. Here in Florence, the average price of regular is about $4.19 per gallon, while the statewide average is $4.22.
Smoke Survey
Wildfire and smoke affect everyone in Lane County, and officials want to hear how residents are coping. Lane County Emergency Management has launched a survey open through October 17th to help agencies understand local experiences with fire and smoke, and identify where support can be improved. Emergency Manager Tiffany Brown says wildfire and smoke are now part of life in Lane County for much of the year, and updating the county’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan will help communities stay safe while continuing to thrive. The survey is part of a larger effort with the Oregon Department of Forestry and other partners to update the plan, last revised in 2020. An up-to-date plan is also required for communities to qualify for federal funding for wildfire mitigation and recovery. In Florence, air quality conditions yesterday and this morning were in the moderate range.
