May 01, 2025

Scott, Schatz Push Effort to Provide Resources to Improve Flood Mitigation Strategies

The Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act would help flood-prone communities end the costly cycle of repeated flooding and rebuilding.

Washington, D.C. – Ahead of the committee’s hearing entitled, “Examining Insurance Markets and the Role of Mitigation Policies,” Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) are reintroducing legislation to help flood-prone communities end the costly cycle of repeated flooding and rebuilding. Instead of simply rebuilding the same properties in high-risk, repeated loss areas, which puts unsustainable strain on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and threatens communities, the Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act will help compel the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local governments to proactively reduce flood risk.

“Communities in South Carolina and across the country continue to face challenges from persistent flooding. But instead of repeated rebuilding in high-risk areas, we need to ensure Americans in flood-prone communities are taking the necessary steps to improve their infrastructure and mitigation strategies. This bill will provide key resources to help Americans across the country rise above the threat of flooding,” said Chairman Scott.

“Around the country, people are facing increased threats and costs from sea level rise and more frequent and severe storms,” said Senator Schatz. “We need to do all we can to prepare our communities and our economy to weather the storm, and this bill will help us take proactive steps to address flooding.”

The legislation has the support of key stakeholders and organizations:

“Mutual insurers have a long and storied history of working with policyholders in their communities to invest in protecting against losses before they happen.  The spirit of proactive mitigation and planning in the defense of taxpayer dollars as required by the Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act will not only ensure communities are better protected from losses, but promote sensible risk reduction and education about those risks to the benefit of all current and prospective residents,” said Jimi Grande, Senior Vice President of Federal and Political Affairs, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).

“Independent insurance agents and brokers work tirelessly to protect consumers from the economic threat of natural disasters. Flooding is one of the most common types of natural disaster loss in the country. The Big “I” supports commonsense legislation such as the Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act that takes a proactive approach to better prepare communities that are more susceptible to flooding. Doing so will not only help better protect these communities, but also work to make the National Flood Insurance Program financially solvent so it can continue to play a critical role in mitigating risk for years to come,” said Nathan Riedel, Senior Vice President, Federal Government Affairs, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big “I”).

“Flooding impacts millions of Americans across the country. APCIA commends Senators Scott and Schatz for their bipartisan leadership and introducing the Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act. The legislation will provide greater protections for families and businesses by minimizing flood risk through enhanced risk mitigation programs and preparedness. APCIA strongly supports the passage of this important legislation,” said Sam Whitfield, Senior Vice President of Federal Government Relations, American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA).

“On behalf of the 32,000 members of the American Public Works Association (APWA), we offer a statement in support of the “Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act” previously introduced during the 118th Session of Congress. Since 2017 there have been over 30 short-term extensions of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and APWA has long advocated for a long-term, financially responsible, and more streamlined approach to providing the vital coverage needed from flood insurance. For too many years, the current approach of short-term extensions is damaging to our communities and is not a sustainable approach. APWA’s Emergency Management policy priorities for the 119th Congress—calls for the federal government to place emphasis on mitigation through grants and training opportunities to assist in hardening our nation in preparing for disasters. Additionally, APWA supports consulting with and potentially incorporating the private sector in developing flood insurance products for low or minimal risk structures (outside of regulatory floodplains), which aligns with language in Senator Scott’s bill. APWA looks forward to working with the Senator and other members of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on legislation such as this bill seeking to provide relief and resiliency to our nation's communities that are working to address the impact from flooding,” said American Public Works Association President Dominick Longobardi and CEO Scott Grayson.

“Marsh McLennan supports public policies that help individuals, businesses and communities prepare for and reduce the human tragedies and economic loss associated with natural disasters. Closing the flood protection gap and fostering resilience requires a holistic approach. By encouraging mitigation activities for repeatedly flooded communities, Senator Scott’s legislation would contribute to such an approach, ” said John Doyle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marsh McLennan.

“On behalf of Aon, I write in strong support of the bipartisan Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act. This important legislation promotes resilience by encouraging communities to proactively manage and mitigate repeated flooding risks, which is essential for protecting both lives and economic stability,” said Daniel Serota, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, Aon, in a letter.

“The Reinsurance Association of America (RAA) commends Chairman Scott and Senator Schatz for their bipartisan leadership in reintroducing the Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act. The RAA strongly endorses this bill, which offers a practical approach to breaking the costly and unsustainable cycle of build-flood-rebuild that has burdened NFIP policyholders, communities, taxpayers, and the National Flood Insurance Program for decades. This critical legislation would empower communities to build greater resilience, thereby enhancing public safety, protecting and increasing the insurability of properties in high-risk areas, reducing the financial burden on taxpayers, and strengthening NFIP’s solvency. The RAA views this bill as a clear win for all stakeholders and strongly urges Congress to enact it without delay,” said Nicole Austin, Senior Vice President and Director of Federal Affairs, Reinsurance Association of America.

BACKGROUND:

The Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act:

  • Requires communities that participate in NFIP and have been repeatedly flooded to assess the risks to areas damaged by floods, develop and implement community-specific plans for mitigating flood risks, and make these plans publicly available.
  • Encourages communities developing mitigation strategies to work with FEMA to request data needed to better understand and mitigate against their risks.
  • Requires FEMA to consider the extent to which a community has complied with requirements to develop and implement mitigation strategies for repeatedly flooded areas in considering awarding flood risk mitigation grants to those communities.
  • Holds communities that do not comply with these requirements accountable to encourage their participation in mitigation efforts.

For bill text, click here. For a one-pager on the legislation, click here.

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