Responding to Increased Flood Risks

On Wednesday, the Committee on Financial Services held a hearing entitled “Preparing for the Storm:  Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program”. The goal of the hearing was to discuss the state of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), including affordability challenges and reforms since the NFIP’s inception in 1968.

According to the hearing, in 2018, FEMA found significant affordability challenges for lower-income homeowners, as many that are least able to afford higher premiums tend to live in the highest flood hazard areas. FEMA found that “the combination of higher premiums and lower incomes in the SFHA creates affordability pressure on households.”

Witnesses, in addition to committee members, included Maria Cox Lamm, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Christopher Heidrick, Heidrick & Company Insurance and Risk Management Services, LLC, Velma Smith, Senior Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Mabél Guzmán, Broker, @properties, on behalf of the National Association of Realtors, Collin O’Mara, President and CEO, National Wildlife Federation, and Raymond J. Lehmann, Director of Finance, Insurance and Trade Policy, Street Institute.

Mabél Guzmán, speaking on behalf of the National Association of Realtors, noted that many homeowners are underinsured, and coastal areas are not the only areas at risk of flooding.

“By every measure, floods are getting worse.” said Guzmán in her statement. She stated that many homeowners are unaware of the risk, and a re-structuring of the NFIP may be necessary.

Collin O’Mara confirms Guzmán’s statements, noting that the increasing number of natural disasters requires a different approach.

“Too frequently, we are responding to disasters after they occur, giving little thought and attention to proactively reducing risk and increasing the resilience of our nation’s vulnerable communities,” said O.Mara in his statement. “Responding after a disaster is necessary; however, without proper planning, resilience measures, and insurance, disasters are much more destructive, and rebuilding is more difficult.”

Find the complete hearing  and written testimonies here.