FEMA requires new elevations in St. Bernard

FEMA officials reviewing required flood elevations for St. Bernard Parish structures in the wake of Hurricane Katrina are expected to announce in mid-November how high they think any new construction should be elevated.

It's unclear how the recommendations will affect the reconstruction of St. Bernard because parish officials aren't required to implement them, said Richard Rein, a community mitigation planner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in St. Bernard.
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No matter what happens, it appears that for the most part, homes that need to be just gutted and rewired won't be affected by any announcements in November, Rein said. Under FEMA rules, people who are existing flood insurance holders would be grandfathered in but might have to pay higher rates, Hunnicutt said.