National Association of REALTORS® President Kevin Sears sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency calling for action on the National Flood Insurance Program and other critical FEMA disaster programs. In his letter, Sears emphasized NAR’s desire to engage in a productive and collaborative dialogue, aligning with the Trump administration’s goals of streamlining and reducing costs while ensuring that programs effectively meet the needs of communities impacted by disasters.
The letter came in response to a request from the Department of Homeland Security for comments on the public’s experience with FEMA. These were the comments NAR filed.
“REALTORS® bring firsthand experience with FEMA’s disaster response efforts, whether as survivors themselves or as professionals connecting displaced families with temporary housing and other resources during recovery,” Sears wrote on behalf of NAR members. “Their expertise proves invaluable to clients navigating real estate transactions in disaster-stricken areas, offering critical guidance during what are often people’s most vulnerable moments.”
NAR’s recommendations to the FEMA Review Council reflect decades of on-the-ground advocacy and insights from members in disaster-impacted communities. To strengthen long-term outcomes, NAR recommends streamlining federal recovery programs to better bridge the gap between short-term aid and permanent housing and expanding mitigation grants that help communities rebuild stronger and safer. NAR also stresses the need for comprehensive NFIP reforms to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability and effectiveness.
Evaluating FEMA’s Disaster Assistance Phases
To guide its recommendations, NAR evaluated FEMA’s disaster assistance framework across three critical phases: response, recovery, and resiliency.
In the response phase, Sears stated in the letter, FEMA has made notable improvements since Hurricane Katrina in its immediate action following major disasters. NAR’s leaders and members urge the Review Council to preserve and strengthen these initial federal response capabilities, which remain vital to ensuring quick relief when disaster strikes.
However, in the recovery phase, NAR members have identified significant shortcomings. NAR highlights challenges such as limited FEMA engagement once the immediate threat has passed, a lack of adequate temporary housing solutions, and confusing or inconsistent application processes for federal disaster aid. Furthermore, disparities in aid disbursement across different states add complexity and frustration for disaster survivors attempting to rebuild.
In the letter, NAR urged expansion of FEMA mitigation grant programs in the resiliency phase, which focuses on long-term recovery and the development of infrastructure and housing designed to withstand future disasters. These programs help property owners strengthen their homes against natural disasters, ultimately helping to reduce the cost of home insurance and increase its availability. FEMA’s efforts in this area are helping break the costly cycle of repeated damage and rebuilding, particularly in high-risk regions.
Reauthorizing and Reforming the NFIP
NAR also voiced support for the NFIP, a program which is critical to real estate markets and the U.S. economy. While the NFIP continues to provide essential coverage to millions of property owners, real estate professionals who are REALTORS® believe meaningful reforms are urgently needed.
Key recommendations include improving flood-risk mapping, enhancing public risk communication and mitigation efforts, addressing the program’s mounting debt and risk concentration, and encouraging a competitive private flood insurance market. These reforms would not only ensure the program’s solvency but also expand coverage options and affordability for homeowners in flood-prone areas.
“The National Association of REALTORS® is working to ensure that homeowners who fall victim to unexpected disasters are in a position to rebuild their livelihoods,” says Shannon McGahn, NAR executive vice president and chief advocacy officer. “The real estate sector makes up nearly one-fifth of the U.S. economy, and it is essential that we protect this investment, which is a primary way for Americans to build wealth.”
As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, the need for responsive and resilient disaster assistance programs grows increasingly urgent. NAR remains committed to collaborating with FEMA and other stakeholders to ensure that all Americans—regardless of where they live—have the resources and support they need to recover and thrive after disaster strikes.
