Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act
TheRepeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act would add a new accountability framework to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. It creates a category of “covered communities” that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and meet specific flood-loss thresholds. These communities would be required to identify areas repeatedly damaged by floods, assess ongoing risk, and develop and implement community-specific mitigation plans. The plans would be publicly available, and communities could be subject to sanctions, including suspension from NFIP, if they fail to comply or make adequate progress. FEMA would issue regulations within a year, and Congress would receive periodic progress reports on how these communities are implementing their plans. The bill aims to push communities to actively address flood risks in areas with repeated damage, using data, planning, and potential federal incentives or sanctions to drive action. It also allows FEMA to provide data to help communities develop plans and to consider compliance when awarding mitigation-related federal assistance. The approach emphasizes transparency, accountability, and tying NFIP participation to demonstrated mitigation progress.
Key Points
- 1New category of “covered communities” defined by NFIP participation and specific flood-damage thresholds, including: (I) at least 50 repetitive loss structures with two or more claims in any 10-year period totaling over $1,000, (II) at least 5 severe repetitive loss structures with no required mitigation activities conducted, or (III) a public or private nonprofit facility with Stafford Act 406 assistance for more than one flood event in the last 10 years.
- 2Covered communities must identify repeatedly damaged areas, assess ongoing risks with FEMA help, develop a community-specific mitigation plan, submit the plan and updates, implement the plan, and make the plan and progress public.
- 3Communities may incorporate these mitigation efforts into existing plans under other NFIP or Stafford Act authorities.
- 4FEMA data assistance to communities upon request, and the possibility of using mitigation grants to reward compliance or penalize noncompliance.
- 5Sanctions authority for noncompliance, including possible suspension from NFIP or probation, with required notices and consideration of community resources and other factors.
- 6Regular reporting to Congress on progress, with initial reporting within six years of enactment and at least every two years thereafter.
- 7FEMA regulations to implement these provisions must be issued within one year of enactment.