SLS 19RS-747 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 93
BY SENATOR MORRISH
COASTAL PROTECT/RES AUTH. Requests the Coastal Protection and Restoration
Authority to form a subcommittee to coordinate the state's involvement in the National Flood
Insurance Program.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To urge and request the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to form a
3 subcommittee to coordinate the state's involvement in the National Flood Insurance
4 Program.
5 WHEREAS, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created in 1968 in
6 response to Hurricane Betsy to address the nation's financial exposure as a result of flooding
7 and rebuilding after natural disasters; and
8 WHEREAS, NFIP was created within the Federal Emergency Management Agency
9 (FEMA) to address the policy objectives of identifying flood risk, offering affordable
10 insurance premiums to encourage program participation, and promoting community-based
11 floodplain management; and
12 WHEREAS, NFIP helps communities at risk of flooding better prepare by requiring
13 stronger floodplain management standards and incentivizing mitigation to discourage risky
14 business in harm's way; and
15 WHEREAS, the five hundred thousand active NFIP policies in Louisiana were
16 valued at $132 billion in 2018; and
17 WHEREAS, Louisiana's total loss payments from NFIP were $19.57 billion in 2018;
18 and
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SLS 19RS-747 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, Louisiana continues to face increased flood risk from intensified
2 weather events and subsequent flooding, producing more expensive flood damages, and
3 higher flood insurance costs within an already vulnerable coast; and
4 WHEREAS, impacts of coastal land loss and increasing storm vulnerability are not
5 just to the physical landscape, but to the economic and financial landscapes as well; and
6 WHEREAS, changes to the coastal environment can be slow, insurance and financial
7 decisions can change rapidly and have immediate impacts on coastal communities; and
8 WHEREAS, Louisiana must take greater initiative to prepare coastal communities
9 for flooding events and reduce the financial burden of flood disasters on coastal
10 communities; and
11 WHEREAS, the economic implications of flooding require coordination at the local,
12 state, and federal levels as well as across multiple state agencies; and
13 WHEREAS, Louisiana requires that all parishes and municipalities participate in and
14 comply with all applicable provisions of federal floodplain management and flood insurance
15 programs; and
16 WHEREAS, flood risks and potential changes to flood insurance will create changes
17 throughout Louisiana, but the coastal area will be particularly impacted; and
18 WHEREAS, coalitions of business groups and affected industries, and coalitions
19 supported by Louisiana levee districts have been active in this issue; and
20 WHEREAS, the issue of flood insurance and the NFIP is too important for the state
21 to remain on the sidelines; and
22 WHEREAS, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board (Board) is
23 tasked to represent the state's position in policy relative to protection, conservation,
24 enhancement, and restoration of the coastal area of the state; and
25 WHEREAS, the Board is composed of multiple agencies and stakeholder groups
26 uniquely qualified to assess the potential impacts of changes to the NFIP to the state and
27 authorized to create a subcommittee when the necessary instance arises.
28 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
29 urge and request the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board to form a
30 subcommittee to analyze and assess the National Flood Insurance Program and potential
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SLS 19RS-747 ORIGINAL
1 changes to that program as well as the implications of those changes for the insurability of
2 coastal communities.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee of the Board shall include but
4 not be limited to representatives from the Division of Administration, the Department of
5 Transportation and Development, the Department of Insurance, the Governor's Office of
6 Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Coastal Protection and Restoration
7 Authority, and the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this flood insurance subcommittee should:
9 A. Rely on the latest and most scientifically-reliable available data and technology
10 related to flood risk in coastal Louisiana.
11 B. Collaborate with FEMA in regard to recently proposed changes of the NFIP as
12 well as with local actors and entities immersed in the work of coastal community flood
13 insurance on behalf of the state of Louisiana.
14 C. Discuss and evaluate proposed reforms to the NFIP and make recommendations
15 for consideration in updates to the NFIP relevant to flood risk and insurance programs within
16 the purview of Louisiana's vulnerable coast.
17 D. Engage with the flood insurance industry to further explore the evaluation and
18 communication of risk in the coastal area, the risk reduction attributes of the 2017 Coastal
19 Master Plan, and opportunities to work together to reduce risk and the financial burdens of
20 flooding and recovery.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair of the Board shall chair the National
22 Flood Insurance Subcommittee.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
24 chair of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority for distribution to the Board.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
SCR 93 Original 2019 Regular Session Morrish
Requests the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to form a subcommittee to
coordinate the state's involvement in the National Flood Insurance Program.
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