Lowcountry Flooded States of America (LFSA) was founded in 2019 by Charleston, SC flood survivors specifically to protect their communities from flooding and destructive building practices. Charleston is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country – and one the most vulnerable. It’s surrounded on three sides by the Ashley River, the Cooper River, and the harbor. Over one-third of all homes are built on land that sits below 10 feet of elevation and 78% of all properties in Charleston are at risk of flooding over the next 30 years. Storm surges up to 9 feet have been recorded, and climatologists expect surges to grow larger as the climate warms and storms become more intense. The resident-led nonprofit focuses on helping flood survivors navigate the often-labyrinthine journey of post-flood insurance claims, building codes, and remediation. As well, they raise awareness of the dangers of fill-and-build development, outdated flood mapping, insufficient flood disclosure laws, and public health issues.
Lowcountry Flooded States of America
Led by Charleston resident Ana Zimmerman, LFSA is dedicated to keeping homes and neighbors out of harm’s way by advocating for banning fill-and-build developments, revisiting old building permits, updating flood maps and disclosure laws, and building storm shelters. When Zimmerman bought her home, the realtor assured her it was not in a flood zone; in truth, it had flooded five times before. When her home flooded in 2015, she rebuilt it, only to have it flood again two years later, filling it with black mold. An immunologist, she understood the health risks and the impossibility of complete remediation. She refused to sell to another unsuspecting family, so it went into foreclosure – only to be sold again. Her entire subdivision had been built below the FEMA required elevation of 12 feet, and variances had been approved that violated the regulations. The City underreported flood damages, failing to recognize severe repetitive loss properties and thereby preventing homeowners from obtaining mitigation funding. Her research prompted a fraud investigation by FEMA.
When Ana Zimmerman’s home flooded, she discovered that it had been built illegally. Her research prompted a fraud investigation by FEMA. George Kasimos of Stop FEMA Now met with Ana at her home at 1171 Shoreham Drive, Charleston, S.C. to discuss the circumstances around the investigation.