Senator Scarcella-Spanton’s Disaster Preparedness Bill Passes Senate Floor

Senator Scarcella-Spanton’s Disaster Preparedness Bill Passes Senate Floor

Editor’s note: As part of last year’s MLK Day of Service events, Sen. Scarcella-Spanton and Asm. Fall informed the community of how to prepare for and recover from disasters including floods and other storm related damage.  Recent hurricanes such as Hurricane Ian have demonstrated the inequality inherent in many disasters, particularly where federal response has been lacking in recent years due to a lack of funding or infrastructure to assist recovery efforts. Readers also learned useful tips from Preparedness experts about how to best prepare for hurricanes and other major storms.  Even small storms have proven to be overwhelming in recent years due to the incredible speed of the rainfall.  The infrastructure is designed for 1.5″ of rainfall in an hour, but recent storms have averaged 3 inches in an hour, leading to an overburdened system that then floods into basements and toilets and overflows catch basins leading to large amounts of damage. 

ALBANY, NY – Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton’s bill to establish an insurance liaison within the Disaster Preparedness Commission has passed on the Senate Floor. This legislation creates the position of an insurance liaison on the commission to enhance disaster response and recovery efforts in New York.

Senate Bill 2069 aims to address longstanding challenges and uncertainties surrounding insurance coverage during disasters by bridging the gap between the Disaster Preparedness Commission, the Department of Financial Services, and insurance companies. This legislation was previously vetoed by Governor Hochul last year, but Senator Scarcella-Spanton remains committed to its passage, emphasizing the urgent need for this position.

The insurance liaison will serve as a dedicated expert to clarify insurance-related issues, ensuring that New Yorkers receive the guidance they need when disaster strikes. By doing so, the liaison will help streamline the recovery process, making it as seamless and straightforward as possible for individuals and families. The establishment of an insurance liaison will be especially beneficial for vulnerable communities like Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn, ensuring they have access to the necessary resources and support to mitigate the impact of future disasters. The liaison will work directly with affected individuals to clarify insurance policies, assist with claims, and provide critical information in times of crisis.

“During Hurricane Ida, I witnessed firsthand the difficulties my constituents faced while trying to navigate their flood insurance coverage,” said Senator Scarcella-Spanton. “It is clear that we need an insurance liaison to provide guidance and support to those affected by these increasingly prevalent natural disasters.”

Senator Scarcella-Spanton was appointed as Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, and is a member of the Committees on Civil Service and Pensions, Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Disabilities, Labor, and Women’s Issues.

Banner Image:  Hurricane Sandy’s destruction along coast of Staten Island, New York in 2012. Image Credit: Joseph McAllister (USACE)

State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton