Physical Risks

Commercial real estate faces numerous threats from natural catastrophes, international and domestic terrorism, and organized retail crime. These threats cost businesses, cities, and the economy billions in losses. The Roundtable continues to help build a more secure and resilient industry through our Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and active role in the Real Estate Information Sharing and Analysis Center (RE-ISAC). 

Our work remains focused on tangible measures โ€” developed through increased cross-agency information sharing and cooperation with law enforcement and intelligence agencies โ€” that CRE can take to guard against these threats. As the nature of threats evolve, The Roundtable will remain a central advocate and conduit of information to ensure the places where our friends, family, and neighbors live, work, shop, and play are safe and secure.

Position

In addition to cyber threats, physical risks to commercial real estate โ€” including an alarming rise in organized retail crime โ€” are a priority of The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and its active role in the Real Estate Information Sharing and Analysis Center (RE-ISAC).

We engage policymakers on the need for legislation to help respond to natural disasters such as flood. The Roundtable is a long-standing supporter of a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), including appropriate reforms that create long-term stability for policyholders, improved accuracy of flood maps, mitigation reforms, enhanced affordability, and the acceptance of non-NFIP policies for commercial properties.

The Roundtable supports bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate and House that would reauthorize and extend the NFIP for five years, providing greater stability for real estate markets, homeowners, and small business owners as the nation continues to struggle with inflationary pressures and increased threats of extreme weather.

Background

The National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization (NFIP-RE) Act of 2023ย would also implement a series of sweeping reforms to reduce program costs, make generational investments in communities to reduce flood risk, and establish a fairer claims process for policyholders. (Legislative text)

Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), alongside Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Clay Higgins (R-LA), introduced the NFIP-RE Act (S. 2142ย andย H.R. 4349) in June 2023 to put the federal flood insurance program on solid fiscal ground. The Senate Banking Committee is leading this bicameral and bipartisan reform effort. (One-page summaryย of the bill)

Recent natural disasters such as flood, extreme wildfires, devastating hurricanes, hail, tornadoes, and drought cost the U.S. hundreds of billions annually. Yet, only a portion of the losses are be covered by insurance, as many were uninsured.

Resources
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RER's Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF)
Real Estate Information Sharing and Analysis Center (RE-ISAC)
Cyber Risks
Physical Risks