Credit: Office of Sen. Steve Santarsiero
As serious flooding events gain more attention in Bucks County and beyond, the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force’s final report was issued last week by Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys.
In Bucks County, there has been a sharp focus on flooding after a July 2021 flash flooding event that caused severe damage in Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, and Bensalem Township, and the July 2023 storm that killed seven people and caused serious damage in New Hope Borough, Solebury Township, Lower Makefield Township, Middletown Township, Upper Makefield Township, and other communities.
The task force had bipartisan support in Harrisburg, and State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, a Democrat representing Bucks County’s 10th district, and State Rep. Perry Warren, a Democrat representing the 31st district, both served on the task force.
After it received bipartisan support in the legislature, Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, signed House Bill 735 into law as Act 22 and it established the task force, which was tasked with studying flood insurance issues and make recommendations to help improve affordability and expand access to flood insurance coverage for Pennsylvania communities.
Key recommendations from the task force include:
- Establishing an Office of Community Rating System Assistance (CRSA) and Expand Grant Funding within the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA);
- Improving Disclosures During the Home-buying Process;
- Incorporating Continuing Education Credits Across Professional Roles;
- Enhancing Education and Outreach;
- Incentivizing Home Mitigation through Tax Credits;
- Enhancing Coverage for Water Damage;
- Incorporating Flood Resiliency into Building Codes;
- Proposing a Pennsylvania Flood Insurance Relief Act; and
- Studying Further Innovative Solutions.
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield pointed to the long-term benefits of these recommendations, noting that “any steps that we can take to promote flood mitigation activities and assist homeowners and renters with obtaining affordable flood insurance will hasten recovery efforts and benefit our communities and our citizens for years to come.”
The task force’s mission was celebrated by Shapiro and legislators from both parties at a signing event in Yardley Borough last year.
“Our collaborative efforts have resulted in a set of recommendations that will help protect our communities from future flood disasters and promote resilience across Pennsylvania,” Santarsiero said.
“This report identifies next steps, and I look forward to supporting legislation to implement the recommendations of the task force,” Warren said.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department has reminded residents that standard homeowner or renters’ policies do not typically cover flood damage. They encourage Pennsylvanians to explore the expanded offerings available through National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), private insurers, and licensed agents.
To read the full report, click here.
