8th District Congressman Passed an Amendment to Create a National Flood Insurance Advocate to Protect Flood Victims and Help them Navigate the Bureaucracy

(Washington, D.C.) – Flood victims should not be forced to rebuild their property and navigate the complicated national flood insurance program all on their own. After three floods in three years, for those along the Delaware River this is too often the case. Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) introduced and passed an amendment to help flood victims by establishing a National Flood Insurance Advocate. This measure, an amendment to H.R. 3121, the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007, would give flood victims someone to turn to during times of need. The amendment Murphy introduced would create the National Flood Insurance Advocate who would report to Congress about the problems facing the Flood Insurance Program and determine the most effective way to create a nationwide office. This would be modeled after the successful Taxpayer Advocate Service at the IRS and would help families and businesses navigate the bureaucracy of FEMA and their flood insurance companies. Murphy’s amendment gives the National Flood Insurance Advocate the ability to assist those with flood insurance cut through the red tape. The National Flood Insurance Advocate would be required to have a background in both customer service and flood insurance. As an independent position inside FEMA, the Advocate would have the access needed to protect those struggling with flood insurance claims.

“After a catastrophic storm, families and business owners find a maze of bureaucracy instead of the assistance they need. Today, we are trying to change that,” said Congressman Patrick Murphy. “After surviving days of rain and rivers that overrun their banks, it shouldn’t be so hard to get help. My amendment to create a National Flood Insurance Advocate would help cut through the red tape and give flood victims someone to turn to when they need it most.”

“I’m proud that my office has worked so hard for people in our community, but we need to give them an advocate within the system,” added Murphy.

After three major floods in three years, property owners along the Delaware River in Bucks County have found themselves in situations where they need an advocate on their behalf.

• Nancy Rees from Yardley, Pennsylvania had a problem with her flood insurance that would have left her paying $10,000 more per year in premium payments. Only through countless hours of working with Congressman Murphy’s office, was she able to correct the mistake but without that help she would have been forced to drop all flood insurance and the system would have failed her completely.
• In trying to comply with FEMA’s regulations, Tony Plescha, owner of Charcoal Steaks n’ Things in Yardley, demolished his restaurant, intending to use grant money to rebuild. Unfortunately, he encountered difficulties with local ordinances that delayed construction for over a year.
• Without a section of the National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP) dedicated to showing policy holders how to navigate this complicated system, individuals are left to fend for themselves and often pay a very high price in the process. Unfortunately, in our community, these stories are commonplace.

The National Flood Insurance Advocate

• The National Flood Insurance Advocate would be created upon passage of the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 and would operate inside FEMA. The person would be appointed by and report directly to the Director of FEMA and must have a background in customer service and insurance, as well as experience representing individual insureds.
• To ensure the independence of the office, the Advocate would be prohibited from working for FEMA in the prior two years and would be barred from working for FEMA for the five years after they leave the position.
• Within six months, the National Flood Insurance Advocate must submit a report analyzing the most effective way to establish the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate.
  • This office would assist insureds under the national flood insurance program in resolving problems with FEMA relating to the program.
• Within one year, the National Flood Insurance Advocate must submit a report to Congress documenting areas in which individuals are having trouble with FEMA and the flood insurance program, and what the agency is doing to improve services.
  • The report would also provide recommendations for administrative and legislative action that could help resolve problems encountered by insureds.

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Contact: Adam Abrams, (202) 225-4276