Taxpayers for Common Sense joined fellow fiscal groups, consumer advocates, environmental organizations, and insurance interests in the SmarterSafer.org coalition to release a report calling for reform of the nation’s disaster policies reduce federal costs and better protect citizens and property.

At the release of the report, TCS Vice President Steve Ellis said:

“Current federal disaster policies are putting millions of Americans at risk by reacting after a storm passes, rather than giving citizens and communities the incentives and tools they need to prepare before it strikes. As a result, the nation’s taxpayers are staring at a growing price tag with each new disaster. It is past time to reform national disaster policies and adopt a mitigation strategy that truly prepares the country for the costly disasters that loom ahead. Budgeting for responsible solutions and using disaster relief wisely to ‘pre-spond’ to inevitable future disasters will reduce taxpayer exposure and sticker shock when tragedy strikes. Simply relying on Uncle Sam to open his wallet time and again is not sustainable.”