PRINTER'S NO. 1136
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.145
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, GIRAL, FREEMAN, MADDEN, VITALI, PROBST,
HILL-EVANS, MALAGARI, SANCHEZ, KHAN AND CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
MARCH 25, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, MARCH 25, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study on the economic costs of flooding on residential homes
and businesses in this Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, Flooding causes billions of dollars of damage and
destroys thousands of homes all over the United States; and
WHEREAS, Flooding is the most common natural disaster in this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, According to the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, just one inch of water can cause approximately $25,000
in damage to a home or business; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has experienced at least three
major flooding events in the past 20 years, including Hurricane
Ivan in 2004, Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 and Hurricane Ida in
2021; and
WHEREAS, Hurricanes Ivan and Ida, along with Tropical Storm
Lee, caused a combined total of more than $600 million in
property damage; and
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17 WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, 24 counties have an average of
one flood event per year; and
WHEREAS, There is no singular agency or entity that tracks
and logs property damage done to residential homes and
businesses as a result of flood damage; and
WHEREAS, It is important to know how much flooding-related
damage has been done and where the damage has typically occurred
so that the Commonwealth may better target future prevention and
relief efforts; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study on the economic
costs of flooding on residential homes and businesses in this
Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study:
(1) Focus primarily on data available for the past 20
years.
(2) Identify trends in the costs, locations and types of
damage flooding causes.
(3) Include recommendations on how the Commonwealth can
better track and log property damage from flooding.
(4) Include recommendations on how the Commonwealth can
better target future flooding-related prevention and relief
efforts;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report of its findings and recommendations and submit the report
to the General Assembly no later than 12 months after the
adoption of this resolution.
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