Luzerne Times

HARRISBURG – The Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force has presented Gov. Josh Shapiro and the General Assembly with its final report, including recommendations to improve flood insurance affordability and accessibility, enhance flood resiliency, increase risk mitigation, and protect Pennsylvanians from significant uncovered losses.

House Bill 735 – now Act 22 – was signed into law in November 2023, establishing the Task Force to study flood insurance issues and make recommendations for improving affordability and expanding access to coverage for Pennsylvania communities. Act 22 required the Task Force to deliver a report by July 1, 2024.

“As we prepared this report, we heard firsthand from Pennsylvanians about their lived experiences and suggestions on obtaining and paying for flood insurance, giving us the chance to develop a report with concrete solutions that are guided by the people of Pennsylvania,” said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner and Task Force Chair Michael Humphreys. “The Task Force believes these recommendations will enable the Commonwealth to effectively tackle challenges concerning flood risk throughout Pennsylvania – and this report represents a great first step towards what should be continued dialogue around how we best prepare for and mitigate against flood risk to make flood insurance more affordable for Pennsylvanians.”

The report’s recommendations focus on key areas such as affordability, risk mitigation, incentives, education, and outreach.

“Pennsylvania is one of the most flood-prone states in the nation, and recovery is often a years-long effort,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “Any steps that we can take to promote flood mitigation activities and assist homeowners and renters with obtaining affordable flood insurance will hasten recovery efforts and benefit our communities and our citizens for years to come.”

The recommendations are based on information gathered at five public meetings over six months that included public comments, agency collaboration, stakeholder engagement, expert discussions, and presentations.

“Flooding poses a significant risk to communities across our Commonwealth, and it is crucial that we take proactive steps to mitigate this threat,” said State Senator Steve Santarsiero. “The Task Force has put forward actionable recommendations to help safeguard Pennsylvanians and ensure that flood insurance is more accessible and affordable. I am grateful for the extensive stakeholder engagement and the expertise provided throughout this process. Our collaborative efforts have resulted in a set of recommendations that will help protect our communities from future flood disasters and promote resilience across Pennsylvania.”

“The many destructive weather events experienced across Pennsylvania over the past decade present difficult challenges for communities and families. The frequency of high-damage events and rising recovery costs are roiling insurance markets. In other states, we have seen insurance companies pull out, restrict coverage, or raise premiums beyond many households' ability to pay,” said State Senator Lisa Baker. “This is a crucial juncture for us to consider some fundamental changes before our situation deteriorates into crisis. There are broad questions about flood protections, mitigation measures, and financial coverage that require practical answers."

“Thank you to Governor Shapiro for traveling to Yardley to sign Act 22 into law," said State Rep. Perry Warren. "This report identifies next steps; I look forward to supporting legislation implementing the task force's recommendations."

“I enjoyed working in a bipartisan manner on the Flood Insurance Task Force," said State Rep. David Zimmerman."We identified many challenges and developed recommendations bringing needed updates to current policies."

Information about the Task Force’s meetings, presentations, additional materials, Final Report can be found on PID’s website.

PID also reminds residents that standard homeowner or renters’ policies typically do not cover flood damages; however today there are more options available through private insurers besides NFIP.

Pennsylvanians impacted by flooding should visit PID’s website for resources guiding property owners through filing claims or avoiding repair scams.

More information on NFIP or private insurers is available on PID's Flood Insurance page.

CONTACT:

Jennifer Wilson

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