General Discussion

I am about to share an unpleasant fact. DU, please do not judge me or impugn my character.

I work in the architectural field and have personally filed for FEMA Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) on several of my projects. FEMA establishes hazard maps throughout the country based on historical flood risk data. Being in or outside of a flood zone can translate to tens of thousands of dollars of additional insurance. You (not "you", Applegrove) would be lying to yourself if you say that you'd voluntarily pay that year after year if it could legally be avoided.

It's all about the elevations... With the assistance of a surveyor, you determine if the grades around your building are above the flood hazard elevation designated for your specific area. If you can establish that, with licensed professionals vouching for the calculations, then FEMA will grant you a spot variance for your building. This could save you considerable money on insurance, allow you to have cellars or avoid costly raising of your structure. These rules have been around for decades, through many administrations.

I think we'd have to look beyond the insurance issue for the true source of this tragedy. Every new detail that comes out seems to be worse than the last. These are just off the top of my head (please correct me or add):
-There were calls to FEMA not being answered. Call center staff were let go.
-Key members of FEMA staff in charge of alerts were laid off or took early retirements.
-Local officials did not install alarm sirens in the region.
-The Biden administration offered the county money to implement such alarms and warning systems. Residents refused the money with venom and distain.
-A local firefighter's desperate calls to superiors was ignored.
-Camp administration knew for approximately an hour that the river was expected to rise dramatically and did NOTHING.
-The camp had a restriction on counselor and camper cell phone access but FFS, there must have been safety protocols. There probably was a hundred walkie talkies there... It happened fast but many. if not all, of the children could have been saved.

The loss of life horrifies me as a parent. The fact that it appears to have been avoidable enrages me, especially since I am a Scout leader and my primary obligation is to safeguard children while camping. There is plenty of fault and negligence. People must be held accountable. I'm just saying that this one detail was not the primary factor that endangered everyone.