Photo: Bill Oxford / iStock / Getty Images
FLORIDA - Florida residents are facing disruptions to federal flood insurance and healthcare services as the government shutdown continues in Washington, D.C.
The shutdown has halted the National Flood Insurance Program, preventing new policies from being issued and existing policies from being renewed.
This comes as Florida enters peak hurricane season, raising concerns for homeowners in flood-prone areas.
Florida holds 1.8 million NFIP policies, the most of any state, representing about 20% of all federal flood insurance coverage.
U.S. Representative Jimmy Patronis, a Republican from Florida, said the pause in the program could have serious economic consequences.
“The idea that families in Florida could go without coverage because of D.C. politics is frankly gross,” he told WFLA, noting that homeowners rely on federal flood insurance to buy, sell, and finance properties.
Fellow Republican U.S. Representative Randy Fine highlighted the urgency for Floridians to maintain access to flood insurance during hurricane season.
He said it is critical for residents to be able to purchase and renew policies to protect their homes and prevent interruptions in real estate transactions.
Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the impact of the shutdown on healthcare services.
Representative Kathy Castor of Florida said the pause threatens Affordable Care Act coverage, which could affect Florida families more than residents in other states.
Castor stated that Democrats will continue to advocate for maintaining healthcare protections amid the shutdown.
Hear Ryan Gorman and Dana McKay cover this story and more on The Ryan Gorman Show.
To address the NFIP issue, Patronis joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers co-sponsoring legislation to reauthorize the program through November 21st.
However, the ongoing gridlock in Congress leaves the bill’s future uncertain, and residents may face delays in claims and insurance access if a major storm occurs before the program is restored.