Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., alongside Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), introduced the bipartisan Preventing Environmental Hazards Act in 2024 to give homeowners insured by the National Flood Insurance Program greater flexibility to manage natural disasters, and the bill was recently highlighted in an editorial by Murphy published in the Coastal Review.
“Since 2020, 11 homes in Rodanthe, NC, have been swept away by the sea due to beach erosion, including seven last year,” said Murphy in an accompanying May 2025 press release.
“These disasters could be prevented, but homeowners cannot receive compensation from the National Flood Insurance Program until after their home is destroyed. Proactively condemning and demolishing properties will better serve eligible beneficiaries, improve public safety, save taxpayer dollars, and protect the surrounding environment. This legislation would give at-risk homeowners greater flexibility to protect their livelihoods while preserving North Carolina’s beautiful coastline.”
Background
A growing number of buildings, initially compliant with state and local regulations, face imminent collapse due to property erosion. Property owners often wait for a collapse during a flood to claim through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which doesn’t cover long-term erosion or advance collapse payments. This delay causes public health, safety, and environmental issues from debris and pollutants, leading to costly hazardous cleanups. In many cases, the debris washes under the sand and is found months or years later.
Shoreline erosion damages are excluded from standard homeowners’ insurance, and NFIP only covers flood damages, leaving ambiguity in claims if a collapse occurs after a flooding event. Existing mitigation programs to address threatened homes are slow and inaccessible to homeowners.
According to the press release, the legislation accomplishes the following:
- Authorizes NFIP payouts for structures condemned due to chronic erosion or unusual flooding.
- Allows advance payouts for demolition or relocation: up to 40% of the home’s value up to $250,000.
- Limits payouts to 40% if owners neglect to act before a collapse.
- Reduces confusion in attributing damage to specific floods.
- Encourages proactive demolition or relocation to prevent collapses and reduce cleanup costs and environmental hazards.
Additional Cosponsors:
Reps. David Rouzer (NC-07), Don Davis (NC-01), and Rob Wittman (VA-01).
