Casey Pushes for Passage of Bill to Prevent Flood Insurance Hikes on Thousands of Pennsylvanians

Exeter, PA- With over 30,000 Pennsylvania policyholders potentially impacted, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) called for passage of legislation that will forestall flood insurance hikes. This bipartisan legislation has support in both houses of Congress and would protect Pennsylvanians, some of whom are beginning to feel the first impacts of these hikes. Senator Casey was joined by local stakeholders who will discuss the potential impact of coming flood insurance rate hikes.

“In the last few years Northeastern Pennsylvania has dealt with severe flooding that has battered homes and strained the finances of families,” Senator Casey said. “We can’t let these same homeowners who have dealt with the challenges of severe flooding be hit with massing rate hikes on their flood insurance bills.”

The potential increase in flood insurance rates is coming as a result of the Biggert-Waters Reform Act of 2012. Because of the way the legislation calculates flood risks, up to 30,000 policies in Pennsylvania could eventually see increases.  

 The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act would:

Delay rate increases for:

1. All homes and businesses that are currently “grandfathered.”  These are properties that were built to code and later remapped into a higher risk area.  Prior to Biggert-Waters, these policyholders were not penalized for relying on inaccurate FEMA flood maps.
2. All properties that purchased a new policy after July 6, 2012, before they were legally required to purchase insurance.
3. All properties sold after July 6, 2012.  New homeowners and business owners will continue to receive the same treatment as the previous owner unless they trigger another provision in Biggert-Waters such as Severe Repetitive Loss, non-primary residence, substantial damage, etc.
4. Seek assurances of FEMA’s ability to accurately determine flood risk.
5. Establish a Flood Insurance Advocate within FEMA.
6. Allow FEMA to use the National Flood Insurance Fund to reimburse policyholders who successfully appeal a map determination.

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