Luzerne Times

Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) has been appointed to serve as a member of the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force (the Task Force) established by Act 22 of 2023. The task force's main objective is to study flood insurance issues and make recommendations to improve affordability and expand access to coverage.

Pennsylvania is known to be one of the most flood-prone states in the country. This has resulted in significant damage to structures and facilities, requiring time and resources for repair. In recent years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated its flood mapping, which now includes many properties that previously did not require flood insurance.

The rising premiums of flood insurance have become a burden for many Pennsylvanians, making coverage less affordable. This has put many communities at risk of reduced property sales and values. Sen. Lisa Baker expressed her concerns, stating, "Insurance coverage and costs developed in different times are no longer providing the levels of protection people need. At the same time, rising premiums make coverage less affordable for too many families."

To address these challenges, the Task Force aims to draw on the experiences of other states like California and Florida, which have faced devastating wildfires and hurricanes. By learning from their experiences and combining it with Pennsylvania's own unique situation, the Task Force intends to design remedies that will repair the system today and prepare for future challenges.

In order to gather valuable insights and opinions from the public, the Task Force is seeking input on the accessibility and affordability of flood insurance. Comments can be submitted to ra-in-policyoffice@pa.gov or to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department's Director of Policy Planning at the Office of the Insurance Commissioner in Harrisburg. The deadline for submitting comments is February 5.

Within the next six months, the Task Force will prepare a report that includes recommendations to address the issues surrounding flood insurance. It is important to note that the Task Force will expire 30 days after creating the report.

Sen. Lisa Baker's appointment to the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force highlights the urgency to find solutions that will improve affordability and expand access to flood insurance coverage in Pennsylvania. The Task Force's efforts to gather public input and study flood insurance issues will contribute to the development of recommendations that aim to protect the interests of Pennsylvanians and their properties in the face of flooding risks.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.senatorbaker.com/2024/01/09/baker-to-serve-on-flood-insurance-premium-assistance-task-force/