February 1, 2010 was the deadline for Hawaii counties to submit the necessary paperwork and documentation to be reaccredited under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s levee certification.

According to the State of Hawaii Flood Insurance Program, February 1, 2010 was the end of the two-year Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) period, which FEMA granted to each county for certification of levees. Counties either failing to submit necessary paperwork or earn reaccredidation may result in having flood zone changes from moderate-to-low risk flood zone to a high-risk flood zone, ultimately, raising flood insurance premiums and policies.

Kawainui Stream (Kawainui Marsh Levee), Keaahala Stream, and Waialae-Nui Stream all need reaccredidation. The surrounding areas of Coconut Grove, properties lining Keaahala Stream and lower Waialae-Nui (mauka & Diamond Head of Kahala Mall) may all be at risk should the levees and streams not comply with federal regulations.

All three areas are currently within the moderate-to-low risk X flood zone. The standard rated policy for a property lying in an X flood zone is approximately $906 per year for $250,000 of dwelling coverage. Homeowners with properties within the high-risk flood zone A areas pay approximately $1,634 per year for the equivalent dwelling coverage. That could translate into an approximate eighty percent increase for properties within the three Oahu areas should the levees and streams not receive accreditation.

Hawaiinfip.org, the Hawaii State National Flood Insurance Web site, states that though the deadline has passed, it does not mean that the maps have changed as of this date. Re-mapping will be initiated once FEMA has reviewed all documentation and deems levees and streams to be unsafe. Likewise, counties that failed to submit documentation will not be considered for reaccredidation.

There are grandfathering provisions under the National Flood Insurance Program and homeowners can visit floodsmart.gov to see if their properties qualify. Property owners can also use the Flood Hazard Assessment Tool on the hawaiinfip.org site to see if they are in affected areas.