NJ, NY Senators Convene Sandy Task Force

Press Release

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.), and Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (both D-N.Y.) today convened the first meeting of the Sandy Task Force to examine problems within the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) arising in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and develop recommendations for short- and long-term fixes.

The Sandy Task Force will focus on a range of relevant issues, including FEMA's commitment to reopen all underpaid flood insurance claims from Superstorm Sandy victims caused by widespread lowballing and manipulation of engineering and adjustment reports. It will also explore the viability of a complete overhaul of the NFIP, including whether the current model of relying on third-party, private, Write-Your-Own (WYO) insurance companies to process claims, is the best way to serve policyholders.

"Your government failed you, plain and simple, and you deserve much, much better," said Sen. Menendez. "The purpose of this Task Force is very simple: 1) to bring justice to the Sandy survivors who were lowballed; and 2) to fix the claims process so this injustice never happens again. The Task Force's goal is to make the flood insurance program more efficient and more responsive for the next storm victims, while restoring fairness and ending the nightmare for current storm victims."

"Two and a half years ago Superstorm Sandy ravaged thousands of homes across New York," said Sen. Schumer. "At the time, I am sure homeowners thought that their toughest fight would be getting back up after the storm knocked them down, however, over the past few months and years we have seen that private insurance companies, FEMA, and the agents who worked for them have caused thousands of homeowners to endure a second round of anguish as homeowners have had to fight tooth-and-nail to receive the flood insurance funds that they are rightfully entitled to. I look forward to working with FEMA, the Sandy Task Force, local advocates and others to ensure that there is real reform to the flood insurance program to make it a customer-friendly operation that promptly pays its hard-working ratepayers after a disaster, rather than running them through the ringer."

"While I am encouraged by the progress that was finally made in federal court yesterday we have a long way to go," said Sen. Gillibrand. "What happened to thousands of honest and hard-working families in New York and New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy was simply disgusting. I have real concerns about the road ahead, because I am not convinced that FEMA's actions to date have matched its rhetoric, and I am committed to ensuring we provide ongoing oversight of this process."

"New Jersey families and businesses affected by Superstorm Sandy deserve a fair shot when it comes to getting the help they were promised," Sen. Booker said. "With the launch of the Sandy Task Force, we are continuing our efforts to hold FEMA accountable and seek justice for those who have been wrongfully victimized and denied the support they deserve. This task force won't stop holding FEMA's feet to the fire until we right this despicable wrong."

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