Jeff Bingaman: “on June 20, I introduced a bill to authorize the FEMA administrator to waive the 30-day waiting period for flood…”

“on June 20, I introduced a bill to authorize the FEMA administrator to waive the 30-day waiting period for flood insurance policies purchased for private properties affected by wildfire on Federal lands. Senators Tom Udall, Mark Udall, and Michael Bennet are cosponsors of this legislation. As we speak, wildfires are burning across the Western states and it is critical that we take immediate steps to protect communities against the tragic consequences of flooding. To this end, I am pleased that the Senate included this legislation in the National Flood Insurance Program reauthorization bill, which we will be voting on later today or tomorrow. Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States. In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program to help provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves. The Act, however, requires a 30-day waiting period before coverage under a new contract for flood insurance can take effect. This is to prevent individuals from delaying until the last minute to purchase insurance when the risk of flooding is high. Unfortunately, today's large catastrophic wildfires in the West can alter the watershed conditions on our forested Federal lands so rapidly that nearby communities find themselves in flood hazard areas that didn't exist the day before. The heat of the fires can make the ground impermeable to water, which significantly increases runoff when rainfall comes.…”