WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) applauded passage of a five-year reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) with significant reforms to help property owners and taxpayers.  The measure included the COASTAL Act authored by Wicker that uses scientific data to help determine water damage following a major hurricane.

The COASTAL Act would use hurricane data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in conjunction with engineering formulas to be developed by FEMA to accurately assess flood insurance claims for total-loss, “slab” properties.

“Homeowners will have easy access to useful data from NOAA and FEMA because of the COASTAL Act,” said Wicker, who serves on the Senate Banking Committee.  “A scientific approach will benefit homeowners and taxpayers.  This is an important step to ensuring NFIP can make correct determinations following a major hurricane.”

Use of the COASTAL formula will help prevent the inappropriate shifting of wind claims to the flood program and will empower consumers by providing a better estimation of wind versus water losses.