The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-03-15
TAR HEEL CONGRESSMAN
INSIST ON HUNDRED MILLION
in DISASTER INSURANCE
Bonner, Barden and Lennon Emphasize Difficult
Ties Delaying Construction and Development
in Coastal Areas. Pending Establishment Of
Policy on Government Agency Created Last
Year

Washington, D. C.-Much of the
maze of uncertainty shrouding the
new federal flood disaster insur-
ance program was cleared away
at a recent meeting between
North Carolina members of Con-
gress and Frank ]. Meistrell, who
will administer the program under
the Housing and Home Finance
Agency.
Interest of the Tar Heel legisla-
tors in the program was evidenced
by the fact that II of the IL House
members attended the meeting, at
which North Carolina Insurance
Commissioner Charles Gold was
also present. Senators Sam j. Err
vim and w. Kerr Scott and Repre-
sentative Carl T. Durham were tied
up in committee hearings, but
were represented at the flood in
surance meeting by their admins
trative aides.
Most of the questions PROFOUND
ed by the Congressman came from
Reps. Herbert c. Bonner, Graham
A. Barden and Alton A. Lennon,
whose districts along the eastern
shore have suffered repeated, Sc
we're hurricane onslaughts in re-
cent years, causing widespread
property damage as result of ac-
companying high tides and torren-
tial wind-driven rains.
In response to a question from
Bonner, Meistrell assured the
group that the new program will
be ready to go into operation Shy
late spring or early summer" He
said he expects to have policies
ready for signature withins30 days
after Congress. approves funds to
cover administrative costs. The
agency is asking for 100000
600 for this purpose, Meistrell
stated.
The director said the rate struc-
ture for policies has not yet been
perfected, but that his office, in
consultation with private insurance
companies, has attempted to eval-
uate exposure with respect to the
types of buildings as well as loca-
ton. "Piers, wharves and amuse-
ment places right on the beach
would carry higher rate" he
said.
Barden and Lennon urged that a
uniform rate" be adopted initially
in order to get the program under
way as soon as possible.
81 don't think we should wait
for perfect set-up," insisted Bar
den. "The insurance program
should be put into operation as
soon as possible"
Lennon maintained that to work
out a rate pattern all over the
country would "delay the program
about year." He expressed disap-
pointment that the insurance is not
available this spring. AS result
of severe hurricane damage in re-
cent years, he said, people in his
district who would like to build
along the coast are finding it diff
ficult to obtain conventional insur-
ance from private companies and
cant borrow a cent from lending
agencies"
Barden expressed grave concern
about the zoning provision of the
Congressional act authorizing the
insurance program. In order for it's
citizens to participate in the pro-
gram, all states are required to
adopt coming regulations. Barden
said the coming responsibility
should be left entirely in the hands
of the state and local communities.
"The Federal government should
not project itself into the coming
business" the Congressman assert
ed. "Zoning is a problem peculiar
to local communities and states and
think they should be given au-
thority to develop their own coming
regulations"
MeistrelI agreed that the entire
coming problem is one within the
knowledge of the states and their
political subdivisions" "They know
the problems at the state and local
level" he emphasized.
He proposed to "let the states
See INSURANCE, Page Five