U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) introduced legislation this week that seeks to ensure that flood insurance policyholders receive swift and accurate advance payments on claims.
Specifically, the Emergency Advance Payments Modernization Act would create a pilot program centered on the use of data collected by remote sensing technology to enhance the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) use of advance payments.
The program would direct FEMA to explore the application of this data to provide more precise pre-inspection payout thresholds for delivering funds to affected NFIP policyholders following a flood event. In addition, it would increase the speed at which payments are delivered to policyholders and explore the application of the data to enhance the claims process under the NFIP.
“Long Islanders are no strangers to flooding,” Garbarino said. “When dealing with structural damage or property loss, homeowners can’t afford to sit around waiting to begin recovering after a storm. As we approach the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, I introduced the Emergency Advance Payments Modernization Act to ensure Long Island families can quickly receive advance payments for flood insurance claims in the wake of natural disasters.”
It comes on the 11th anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, which was one of the biggest natural disasters in U.S. history. The storm damaged, destroyed, or severely flooded roughly 100,000 homes on Long Island. Massive coastal flooding reached heights of five and six feet along the South Shore. This storm highlighted the need to ensure that communities have the tools necessary to recover after a storm, including adequate flood insurance.
A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA).
“When natural disasters strike, the last thing Louisiana families can afford to do is wait around for FEMA to issue an advance payment before they can begin the recovery process. My bill would help ensure FEMA has the tools it needs to rapidly issue advance payments for flood insurance claims so that families get the money they need to recover from disasters when it counts,” Kennedy said.