Mittleman agreed, saying that she would continue to fight until Congress eliminates the earth-movement provision from NFIP regulations. “Congress has to legislatively change the amendment,” she said, “or else they’re just going to do this to another neighborhood after another disaster.”

Mittleman added that she is also concerned about how quickly the money will come, especially as the statute of limitations for filing suit against insurance companies draws closer. She said she does not want people to decide not to file suit because of this announcement, only to be denied after the deadline expires and lose out on the money they deserve.

“I don’t want people to have to lawyer up if they don’t have to,” she said. “That was the whole point of this. But on the other hand, if they don’t have a specific guarantee that their particular claim is going to be paid, they don’t really have a choice, even with the governor’s announcement.”

Mittleman said she is pushing officials for more specifics about Cuomo’s change in the Housing Recovery Program, and she urged those affected to contact their elected officials to make sure it pays out in a timely manner.

“It just seems like a broad announcement that they’re going to fund it, but we all know they have to have some sort of process,” Mittleman said. “How quickly is the money going to be issued?”