LOOKING BACK: 20 YEARS OF FIRM

In 2005, four category 5 hurricanes impacted the Florida Keys bringing widespread flooding and damage — Dennis, Katrina, Rita, and most notably, Wilma. Following that devastating hurricane season, folks in Monroe County saw drastic increases in their Citizens windstorm insurance premiums. In February 2006, a group of neighbors decided to fight these increases, which they felt were discriminatory and unaffordable. The grassroots organization — Fair Insurance Rates for Monroe (FIRM) — was born.

FIRM celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, so it’s a good time to reflect on the past and align our mission going forward with the support of Monroe County residents.

WHERE WE’VE BEEN

• When FIRM was formed in 2006, the efforts of our founders rolled back a 20% increase in 2006 rates and derailed a proposed 32% increase for late 2006.
• The 10% rate cap is a result of FIRM’s efforts and was held in place until 2021. With the 1% increase each year since 2021, the cap is STILL lower than the proposed 20% back in 2006.
• FIRM was instrumental in raising the wind policy limits from $700,000 to $1,000,000. FIRM continues to work to increase that coverage limit as the cost of construction in the Keys easily exceeds $1M.
• The windstorm rate freeze from 2017-2021 in Monroe County accounted for approximately $15M in rate savings. That freeze was a result of FIRM’s comments made at Citizens 2017 rate hearing before then-Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier.
• FIRM’s work brought about beneficial changes in wind rate setting methodology, including building codes in hurricane models, changes related to use and file, claims process, premium payment options, Builders Risk coverage and availability of wind coverage for existing Coastal Barriers Resource Area homes.
• FIRM’s work removed the flood insurance requirement for condominium unit owners, removed the matching contents coverage for homeowners  and kept non-primary homes used as long-term rentals under the glide path, increasing affordable housing for Monroe County’s workforce.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

As disappointing as it was to see property insurance, a topic important to all Floridians and especially Monroe County residents, fall by the wayside during the 2025 legislative session, FIRM continued its commitment to advocate on behalf of our Monroe County residents throughout the summer and is currently planning a strategy for the 2026 session.

Legislative goals in a bill being drafted by Rep. Jim Mooney and Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez:

• Remove the flood insurance requirement for Citizens policyholders for properties not at risk for flooding
• Increase the coverage cap to $1.5M in Monroe County
• Carve-out for Monroe County to return to the 10% glide path including of fees and surcharges

Additional legislative goals include:

• Carve-out for Monroe County Affordable Housing and Habitat for Humanity windstorm policies
• Primary vs. non-primary language clarification for glide path determination

It is FIRM’s goal to work on these initiatives and others as policy action items as well, to provide multiple avenues to achieve relief for Citizens policyholders in Monroe County.

COMMUNITY ACTIVISM

FIRM is a grassroots success story. Former Florida governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham wrote about FIRM’s effectiveness in his book America, the Owner’s Manual: Making Government Work For You. Graham notes that FIRM was successful because the activists approached the problem systematically with data to back up their claims. By building relationships with the administration, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and Citizens Property Insurance, FIRM was able to persuade the powers that be that their arguments were solid and based on facts, not emotion.

But that’s not the only reason that FIRM succeeded then and continues to be an advocate for change today. FIRM has always had the support of Monroe County residents. Folks shared their stories, attended presentations and fundraisers, educated themselves about their own insurance policies and donated funds to help support the research and travel required for the founders to do the important work that benefited the entire county. Local government officials got behind FIRM, and some early members became office-holders as a result of their work for FIRM, including former Monroe County Commissioner Heather Carruthers and former Key West Mayor Teri Johnston.

CONTINUE TO SUPPORT FIRM

Monroe County and its municipalities rely on FIRM to collaborate with them on windstorm insurance priorities so that our message is consistent, and they support FIRM in their budgets each year. With recent cuts to local government funding, FIRM cannot rely on that funding to carry the same weight as it has in past years. Successful fundraisers over the last several years have enabled FIRM to build reserves, but we need the community’s support now more than ever.

Maybe you’ve supported FIRM in the past, or maybe you’re new to the Keys and want to do what you can to keep the cost of insurance from lowering property values and making it even more unaffordable for our workforce to remain in Monroe County.

FIRM is asking for your continuing support as we work for legislative and administrative changes to property insurance that will benefit the residents of Monroe County. You can support FIRM’s mission in four ways:

• Buy a ticket for our Little Palm Island Fundraiser – Take a chance to win a one-night stay at Little Palm Island Resort and Spa, plus $1,500 spending money. Drawing is Nov. 20, 2025
• Donate to FIRMKeys – FIRM’s educational arm that works with our local governments to promote programs that inform residents and help build a more sustainable community.
• Donate to FIRMPAC – FIRM’s advocacy arm that works with our lawmakers to draft legislation that provides relief to Monroe County residents.
• Sign up for our newsletter – FIRM’s free membership helps to keep you informed and lets us know what kind of information you want to see.

FIRM is committed to its goals, but it takes community support to make our goals a reality. Your support fuels our mission. Please consider giving today.