Legislation Uses Data to Help Determine Water Damage from Hurricanes
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) applauded passage of afive-year reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) withsignificant reforms to help property owners and taxpayers. Themeasure included the COASTAL Act authored by Wicker that uses scientific datato help determine water damage following a major hurricane.
The COASTAL Act would use hurricane data collected by theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in conjunction withengineering formulas to be developed by FEMA to accurately assess floodinsurance claims for total-loss, “slab” properties.
“Homeowners will have easy accessto useful data from NOAA and FEMA because of the COASTAL Act,” said Wicker,who serves on the Senate Banking Committee. “A scientific approach willbenefit homeowners and taxpayers. This is an important step to ensuringNFIP can make correct determinations following a major hurricane.”
Use of the COASTAL formula will help prevent theinappropriate shifting of wind claims to the flood program and will empowerconsumers by providing a better estimation of wind versus water losses.
