PA creates flood mitigation task force. What it will do, and what it means for homeowners

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he was still moved by the sheer destruction of the storms that struck Bucks County this summer, which caused hundreds of thousands of dollars of property damage and led to the deaths of seven people, including 9-month-old baby Conrad Sheils.

That natural disaster, however, helped propel passage of what is now Act 22, which creates the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force.

"This bill is going create a task force that will help property owners navigate the difficult flood insurance process," said Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie at a ceremonial bill signing for new state legislation Monday. "We here in Bucks County, over the past few years especially, have seen flash flooding from north to south.

"In 2021, we were hit in Bristol Township, Bristol Borough and Bensalem, as well as in Sellersville and New Hope," Harvie added. "And just earlier this year of course that tragic flooding in Washington Crossing which took the lives of seven people, making that, we believe, to be the worst natural disaster in terms of loss of life in the history of this county…we know that this bill, which has been a long time coming, will help owners but will also help us deal with the reality that these floods are no longer sorts of freaks of nature, but will become more common occurrences."

Here's everything else homeowners in Bucks County should know about this task force, and what you should expect from it.

Shapiro signs flood task force legislation in Yardley; group to deliver report in April

Shapiro signed HB 735 into law as Act 22 last month, after it passed both the House and Senate. Shapiro then participated in a ceremonial signing of the bill on Monday at the Yardley Inn near the banks of the Delaware River and Delaware Canal, which both can flood in extreme weather.

HB 735 established the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force to develop policies to increase access and affordability to flood insurance.

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According to the Shapiro Administration, the task force will examine and recommend potential programs that provide premium discounts, incentivize local governments to support flood mitigation efforts, push for any necessary changes to state policies regarding the administration of flood insurance, and increase the number of homeowners who purchase flood insurance, either through the national flood insurance program or the private flood insurance marketplace.

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Shapiro and local officials will select members to the task force, which will deliver its report of recommendations to the governor in April.

Shapiro promised to move swiftly on the items identified by the task force.

What Bucks County homeowners can do now to protect property from floods

Pennsylvania Insurance Department Commissioner Michael Humphreys said less that 1% of all homeowners have flood insurance, and even homeowners that recently purchase insurance may not know that there is a 30-day window between purchasing the insurance and when it goes into effect.

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"After flooding disasters, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department hears devastating stories from residents who thought they were covered for flood through their homeowners’ insurance policy but were not. FEMA’s revised flood maps now require more Pennsylvania properties to hold flood insurance and many owners are struggling to meet that requirement,” Humphreys said. “PID strongly encourages insurance agents to highlight the availability of flood coverage when meeting with clients to discuss new or renewal coverage, and we urge homeowners and renters to ask their insurance agents and insurance companies about flood coverage.”

Homeowners who are still coping with flood damage should check the insurance department's disaster recovery page for tips on filing claims and other resources.

The insurance department notes in its website that homeowners can purchase flood insurance either through National Flood Insurance Program or through any private insurer.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: What the flood mitigation task force means for Bucks County homeowners