ASFPM Testifies at NFIP Reauthorization Hearing Before House Subcommittee

Karen McHugh, CFM, State NFIP Coordinator for Missouri, testified on ASFPM’s behalf at the May 25 hearing on Reauthorization and Reform of the National Flood Insurance Program. Her testimony centered on the importance of prioritizing mitigating at-risk properties, increasing flood-risk awareness, and ensuring full flood-risk disclosure for all property transactions.

“Too many times, I have listened to homebuyers who were surprised to learn, at the closing table, that their new house is in a high-risk floodplain,” McHugh said in her oral statement. “Even more distressing, some property owners have shared with me that they did not learn about their flood risk until their home had already been flooded. Full risk disclosure should not stop with home ownership. A tenant recently told me of her shock when her rented unit’s basement apartment flooded just seconds after she had removed her infant son from his crib. She had never been told that her rented home was in a high-risk floodplain and had a history of flooding.”

As part of the hearing before the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance, ASFPM submitted written testimony, which features more than 20 specific recommendations for strengthening the NFIP across all four facets: floodplain mapping, floodplain management standards, flood hazard mitigation, and flood insurance.

NFIP reauthorization is an opportunity for Congress to take bold steps to reduce the complexity of the program and strengthen the NFIPs financial framework so that the program can continue protecting individuals and property from the devastating effects of flooding.

Karen Mchugh, cfm. state nfip coordinator for missouri

In addition to McHugh, who also serves on the ASFPM Board of Directors, the committee heard testimony from Carolyn Kousky, Executive Director, Wharton Risk Center; Ariel Rivera-Miranda, Founder and Agency Principal, Deer Insurance; Roy Wright, President & CEO, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety; and Franklin W. Nutter, President, Reinsurance Association of America.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs has scheduled two full committee hearings on NFIP reauthorization for later this month. We’ll provide additional details once we learn more.