Schumer Fights Unnecessary Flood Insurance for Gates Homeowners GATES, NY (WXXI) - US Senator Charles Schumer says some homeowners in the Town of Gates are being required to buy flood insurance, even though their properties are at no risk of flooding.

Schumer spoke to reporters and area residents Wednesday in the Courtright Lane neighborhood of Gates near Buffalo Road and Route 490. He says the federal requirement for flood insurance is the sort of thing that gives government a bad name.

Schumer says the neighborhood has no history of flooding and that steps have been taken to improve drainage in the area. But for some reason, Schumer says the neighborhood is the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) newly-established flood map.

Schumer says residents are being required to pay annual flood insurance premiums as high as $800. One homeowner showed the Senator a bill in excess of $1,000.

Schumer has not seen evidence that the problem is statewide, but he says it is a problem in Western New York.

He's calling on the current FEMA director to take the Gates neighborhood off of its flood map. If that request is not approved, Schumer says he'll try again with the new FEMA director, who will take office with the new Barack Obama Administration next month. © Copyright 2009, WXXI