Ahead of Hurricane Season, Menendez Pushes Robust Pre-Disaster Mitigation Investments to Protect Communities Across NJ

WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) called for greater federal investment in pre-disaster mitigation so that families, businesses and whole communities are better prepared for the fierce storms expected to come as the climate crisis worsens. Last year, Hurricane Ida slammed New Jersey, causing widespread damage and claiming the lives of 30 individuals. The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1st.

"Flooding is the most costly and frequent natural disaster homeowners face. Unfortunately, climate change will only make this problem worse. Right now, most federal assistance to make homes more resilient comes after the natural disaster," said Sen. Menendez. "Communities would be much better served if the federal government made more tools available to reduce flood hazards in high-risk areas before the next storm strikes. For every dollar invested in mitigation, the federal government saves six dollars in disaster relief spending."

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Sen. Menendez highlighted his bipartisan, bicameral National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization and Reform Act (NFIP Re-Act), which would tackle systemic problems with flood insurance, put it back on solid fiscal ground, and reframe the nation's entire disaster paradigm to one that focuses more on prevention and mitigation in order to spare the high cost of rebuilding after flood disasters.

"My bipartisan NFIP Re-Act prioritizes pre-disaster mitigation through Increased Cost of Compliance coverage reforms so that homeowners are up to date with the latest building code requirements," the Senator added. "It also creates billions of dollars available for elevations and improvements to the nation's most flood prone homes."

During the hearing, the Senator noted his Livable Communities Act as a way to address the challenges of the 21st century climate crisis. The bill encourages local communities to partner strategically to develop bold, innovative solutions that reflect their unique character, while leveraging existing assets, including access to transit to help revitalize neighborhoods, spur economic development, create jobs, and address their affordable housing needs.

He also highlighted the Choice Neighborhoods program, which funds the transformation, rehabilitation and replacement of public housing and works to revitalize whole neighborhoods. Last year, Camden received a $35 million Choice Neighborhoods grant which will develop 350 new energy-efficient units of housing and improve access to mass transit.