(Los Angeles- January 14, 2010) Councilmember Bernard C. Parks joined Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Public Works Commissioner Valerie Shaw and community members to unveil the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA)newly-revised flood insurance rate map for the Park Mesa Heights Area of Los Angeles. The revised map takes 874 homes out of the so-called “flood zone” and officially ends the mandatory insurance payments required from home owners who hold federally-backed mortgages.

FEMA made the revisions last week at the urging of Councilmember Parks,  Congresswoman Waters and Commissioner Shaw after it was determined the agency made a mistake in using the original map to designate some homes for mandatory flood insurance that were not in danger of being affected by floods.

Today’s announcement came at the home of Isaac Robinson, a community activist who studied the issue feverishly and eventually brought it to Parks’ Office for a resolution.

“Today’s new map is the result of hard work by the community and by offices at the city and federal level,”  Councilmember Parks said. “We all share in this victory, but we know and understand that there are still homeowners in nearby areas who are being charged for flood insurance that they don’t need. As we gather today to recognize our accomplishments, we must also make a commitment to remove those homes from the flood zones as well.”

“Homeowners who don’t need flood insurance shouldn’t be forced to purchase it.  It is an unnecessary expense and a real burden in these tough economic times,” Congresswoman Waters stated. “I was first contacted by Councilman Bernard Parks about this problem, and I’m pleased that FEMA took this issue seriously when I raised it.  I thank the agency for responding in a timely manner and making the appropriate decision.”

“The City is continuing discussions with FEMA to determine the accuracy of the current flood zone boundaries”, added Public Works Commissioner Valerie Shaw.

More than 2,400 properties in District Eight remain in the zones that require flood insurance payments.