Gregory F. Murphy U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 3rd district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Gregory F. Murphy U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 3rd district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued a statement in response to a viral video showing a home being swept away in Rodanthe, NC over the weekend.
“Homeowners should not be forced to wait for their home to be swept away before the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is implemented,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. “We’ve seen so many beach properties destroyed in the last four years, including the home in Rodanthe this past weekend featured in the video that went viral on social media. Beach erosion continues to threaten properties up and down the coastline and we must better manage imminent disaster. Proactive planning will better serve beneficiaries, improve public safety, save taxpayer dollars, and protect the surrounding environment. My Prevent Environmental Hazards Act would give folks covered by the NFIP greater flexibility to manage natural disasters.”
The Prevent Environmental Hazards Act aims to address these issues by authorizing NFIP payouts for structures condemned due to chronic erosion or unusual flooding. It allows advance payouts for demolition or relocation of up to 40% of the home’s value or $250,000 and limits payouts to 40% if owners neglect to act before a collapse. The act also seeks to reduce confusion in attributing damage to specific floods and encourages proactive demolition or relocation to prevent collapses and reduce cleanup costs.
The bill has garnered support from several cosponsors including Reps. Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Rouzer (NC-07), Don Davis (NC-01), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Rob Wittman (VA-01), and Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04). Additionally, it has received backing from the Coastal States Organization.
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