Rebuilding stronger and safer and more flood-resistant is a wise investment of tax dollars. There recently has been an independent study by the Mitigation Hazard Council that has indicated that each dollar spent on disaster mitigation saves society on the average of $4.

We have a responsibility to spend tax money wisely. It makes no sense to rebuild using outdated data.

The rates will reflect this event but they won't go up because of this event alone.

FEMA strongly recommends communities build higher and stronger to reduce vulnerability from flooding during future hurricanes.

FEMA strongly recommends that communities build higher and stronger to reduce vulnerability from flooding during future hurricanes. FEMA provides this kind of advisory information to local governments -- but ultimately it is state and local officials, working with their citizens, who make final decisions on land use and other building code requirements.

FEMA has a responsibility to protect lives and property, and to ensue that disaster re-building efforts use the best data available. We also have responsibility to ensure that federal tax dollars are spent wisely and cost-effectively. It makes no sense to rebuild using outdated data.