A bill that recently passed the state Senate would create a position of insurance liaison inside of the disaster preparedness commission.

Their job would be to get help to flooded properties faster, know the ins and outs of insurances and push for maximum coverage.

Sea Gate residents, an area hardest hit by Sandy, say they learned the hard way during the superstorm that paying for flood insurance does not guarantee coverage during a natural disaster or a prompt recovery.

"I had 8 feet of water in my home, I thought flood insurance starts from the ground up, it doesn't cover the damage, the home insurance won't come till someone else assesses it, it's a mess," said resident Roseanne Degenaro.

"It took far too long, and other homes had no help at all, we could not get generators, and I had water up to my second step on my stairs," said resident Robbin Paraison.

Both say they support the creation of the liaison position, as their community is on the front lines of future storms.

"On the worst day of their life, this is not a system that individuals should be expected to navigate, they should know the state is fighting for them," said bill sponsor Jessica Scarcella-Scanton.

She says that as the bill heads to the House, lawmakers will decide on the scope of the new department and if it will work across county, borough or regional lines to coordinate disaster relief.

Residents say they welcome the assistance, no matter the form.

"We need the peace of mind, and the source of reliable consistent answers," Paraison said.

"I don't think I can handle it alone going through something like this, you cannot get these insurance companies to do what you want, you need someone fighting for you," Degenaro said.

She says she'd consider "walking away" if another disaster struck without state help.