flooding – StandUnited

July 9, 2020 Posted in Environment

Congress : Stop the waste of tax dollars: Support commonsense flood-resilient infrastructure standards

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Petition By: The Pew Charitable Trusts

From 1980 to 2013 flooding disasters cost taxpayers more than $260 billion in damages while claiming lives and devastating communities. The problem has been amplified by our nation’s deteriorating infrastructure, which recently received a grade of D+ from the American Society of Civil Engineers. At a time when we need national leaders to support policies that make fiscally responsible use of taxpayer dollars, some in Congress are making an effort to repeal the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS). This critical policy ensures all federally funded infrastructure in flood-prone areas be constructed to better withstand the impacts of flooding.

As the nation continues to face increasing natural disaster threats and mounting pressures to reduce federal spending, reversal of this sensible standard would be shortsighted. The FFRMS is prudent policy intended to reduce our exposure to flood risk, wisely steward taxpayer dollars, and ensure the durability of our federal investments. Recent polling shows 82 percent of registered voters support the concept of the FFRMS, and broad support for the standard exists from organizations representing reinsurance businesses, civil engineers, and fiscal conservatives.

The FFRMS helps avoid the need to rebuild over and over in the aftermath of major storms by ensuring taxpayer dollars are invested once in infrastructure that is built to withstand today’s floods and tomorrow’s flood risk. Ask your Member of Congress to oppose repealing the FFRMS to make sure we build smarter and stronger before and after disasters.

To Congress:
Some Members of Congress are suggesting the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) be repealed. We urge you to oppose any actions that would undermine this critical policy that ensures all federally funded infrastructure projects in flood-prone areas are constructed to withstand the impacts of future flooding.
If enacted, H.R. 1558 would limit repeat losses and lessen the cost and impact of flooding nationwide on taxpayers, communities, and the federal government.

At a time when the nation is faced with increasing natural disaster threats and pressure to reduce federal spending, repealing the FFRMS would result in wasted taxpayer dollars spent on the vicious cycle of flood loss and repair.

As your constituents we urge you to not add your name those calling for repeal of the FFRMS.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

June 24, 2020 Posted in Environment

Congress: Break the costly cycle of repeated flooding and rebuilding!

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Petition By: The Pew Charitable Trusts

Among the millions of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders are thousands whose properties have flooded multiple times. There is no limit on the number of damage claims these policyholders can file, so they may flood and rebuild over and over.

Although these properties are small in number — historically representing just 1 percent of NFIP policies — the claims have an outsize financial impact, accounting for 25 to 30 percent of NFIP losses. Some of these repeatedly flooded properties have received payments worth more than their value. Over the years, NFIP losses for these repeatedly flooded properties has climbed to over $12 billion — nearly half of the program’s total debt.

And the problem has been growing, with the number of repeatedly flooded properties increasing by an estimated 5,000 per year. This vicious cycle of flooding and rebuilding puts communities at risk and will cost taxpayers billions more unless action is taken.

A solution to this problem is overdue.

The Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act (H.R. 1558), bipartisan legislation recently introduced by Representatives Ed Royce (R-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), would require communities with significant numbers of repeatedly flooded properties to proactively reduce flood risk rather than simply rebuilding time and time again. Ask Congress to support this important legislation to stop the costly cycle of flooding and rebuilding. Take action today.

To Congress:
We are writing to ask you to support the Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act (H.R. 1558), a bill recently introduced by Representatives Ed Royce (CA) and Earl Blumenauer (OR), which would take an important step to address a long-standing serious issue involving properties that are continuously rebuilt after flooding.

If enacted, H.R. 1558 would limit repeat losses and lessen the cost and impact of flooding nationwide on taxpayers, communities, and the federal government.

As your constituents, we urge you to support this important bill and make sure it is included in this year’s National Flood Insurance Program reauthorization.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]