Bill improves urban flood mapping and helps FEMA better assess risks

(Washington, DC) - Today, U.S. Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger joined U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (IL) and Marco Rubio (FL) as well as Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Tammy Duckwroth (IL) and John Culberson (TX-07) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2018 to improve urban flood mapping and prevent associated damage. The legislation will help give cities and towns the tools they need to address flooding in a local context and then encourage the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to apply lessons learned nationwide.

"This is a meat-and-potato, bipartisan bill that will help cities like Baltimore avoid major problems when flash floods, storm surges and snow melt overwhelm the capacity of aging drainage systems," Congressman Ruppersberger said. "It's exactly the type of investment that taxpayers want and expect the federal government to make because it can help prevent property damage and sewage backups when floods inevitably occur."

Urban flooding frequently occurs outside the regulatory floodplain, and FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) do not always accurately indicate flood risk in these areas, resulting in uncertainty of the hazards at hand. The Illinois General Assembly conducted a study in June 2015, which examined flood insurance claims in the state and revealed that more than 90 percent of urban flooding damage claims from 2007 to 2014 were outside the FIRM floodplain.

By providing demonstration grants for cities to invest in innovative mapping technologies, the Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2018 allows constituents the opportunity more accurately assess their flood risks. The legislation also allow them to develop better communication tools, urban design measures, and flood mitigation policies that would put them in a stronger position to protect their communities. Once each pilot program expires, the information gathered and lessons learned would be sent to Congress and FEMA to fully assess each city's best practices and to apply them to FEMA's National Flood Mapping Program.

"From coast to coast, urban flooding has a unique and powerful ability to wreak havoc in our communities, leaving constituents feeling helpless in the aftermath," said Rep. Quigley. "Whether it results in property damage, severe economic challenges, health and safety risks, or all of the above, residents are often unaware of the dangers they face during these extreme weather events. In order to help cities, like Chicago, better defend themselves against flooding disasters, our bipartisan legislation will equip them with the research and resources they need to proactively plan ahead."

"For many homes in urban areas, just a few inches of rain can cause thousands of dollars in damages," said Senator Durbin. "And the truth of the matter is, we don't have much data on the flood risk from the kind of weather that turns our cities streets, businesses, and homes into a flooded mess, let alone the information we need on how we might better prepare for these catastrophes in the future. This legislation will remedy that by helping local governments understand the scope of the problem and develop solutions. With storms growing stronger and more common year after year, we need to gain a better understanding of flooding in our cities."

"It is past time for the federal government to take a more proactive approach in addressing the underlying risk affecting flood prone communities like the ones in my home state of Florida," said Senator Rubio. "By equipping local communities with the knowledge and resources necessary to accurately assess flood risk, this legislation will help homeowners better protect against future flooding and economic hardships."

"Every year, communities in Illinois and across the country struggle to plan for and recover from urban flooding," said Senator Duckworth. "One of the best things we can do to protect our cities and towns is ensure they have the tools, resources and research they need to prepare for urban flooding. This legislation and the pilot program it establishes will do just that, leading to a better understanding of flood risks and how we can prevent and mitigate damage caused by urban flooding."

"After Harvey's devastation caused the largest housing disaster in the history of the country, I worked relentlessly to ensure that Congress provided the necessary funding for our communities to recover. Our neighbors and local businesses are rebuilding, but also remain extremely vulnerable to a future flooding event as we move into the 2018 hurricane season," said Rep. Culberson. "This bill will help communities update their flood maps and allow individuals to better understand their risk of flooding. We need to upgrade the information we use to plan our flood mitigation strategies and improve coordination at all levels of government. This is another step forward to improve Houston's preparedness and every other community across the nation."

Read this original document at: https://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-joins-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-help-homeowners-and