AUSTIN, Texas—More than 22,000 Texans battered by flooding over the last two years settled claims with the National Flood Insurance Program for over $1 billion, disaster recovery officials said today.

Severe storms and flooding over the last two years resulted in six federal disaster declarations in Texas, affecting more than half of the state’s 254 counties, many on multiple occasions. Residents are still picking up the pieces from flood-related disaster declarations in March, April and May-June this year.

About 100,000 individuals and families registered with FEMA for federal assistance during the 2015-2016 recovery. Only a small percentage received the agency’s maximum award of $33,000, for losses likely much greater. The average FEMA grant for the May-June floods was about $6,800.

Those with flood insurance and who filed claims in the last two years received an average settlement of about $57,000.  There doesn’t have to be a federal disaster declaration to file a claim; in fact, most floods do not result in disaster declarations.

Most Texans Lack Flood Policies

Flooding is the most common U.S. disaster as well as the costliest natural disaster. Yet most Texans lack flood insurance, according to the Insurance Council of Texas. Less than 25 percent of the state’s homeowners are covered, despite the risks.

Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, but the NFIP does. Funded by FEMA, NFIP makes flood insurance available for communities that participate in the program, regardless of whether the area is high, low, or medium risk. Check the Community Status Book to see if your community is already an NFIP partner.

NFIP carries a maximum coverage of $250,000 for homes and $100,000 for contents. Business coverage is a maximum of $500,000 for building and $500,000 for contents.

In nearly all cases, it takes 30 days after purchase for a policy to take effect, so it’s important to buy insurance before the storm approaches and the floodwaters start to rise.

To learn more about any property’s flood risk, estimate an NFIP premium or locate an insurance agent who sells flood insurance, go to www.floodsmart.gov. For flood information and safety tips visit www.ready.gov/floods. Find the Spanish-language website at www.listo.gov.

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September is National Preparedness Month. Feel free to share with your audience important tips from www.Ready.gov to prepare, plan and stay informed during any emergency.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Original article: 

Flood Insurance Settlements to Texans Top $1 Billion

ATLANTA, Ga. — Newly revised preliminary digital flood insurance rate maps for St. Johns County and its municipalities will be available for residents to review at public open houses at 4 p.m. on August 31, and at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on September 1. Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk for flooding, and when updated maps become effective, they are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements.

The open houses provide residents of these coastal areas the opportunity to see the preliminary maps, learn about their risk of flooding and ask questions about what the new maps will mean for their property. Residents can meet one-on-one with specialists who will be available to talk about flood insurance, engineering, building permits and more.  Home and business owners, renters, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, surveyors and insurance agents are encouraged to attend the open house. 

The open house dates, times and locations are:

August 31, 2016 

4:00-7:00 pm

 

St. Johns County Building Department Permit Center

4040 Lewis Speedway

St. Augustine, Florida 32084

 

September 1, 2016

10:00 am – 12:00 pm and 4:00-7:00 pm

 

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

1050 A1A

North Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082

The new preliminary maps were developed through a partnership among the county, its municipalities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They are based on updated modeling data and show more accurate flood hazard risk better than older maps. The ultimate goal is protecting property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. Over time, flood risks change due to construction and development, environmental changes, watershed conditions and other factors. Flood maps are updated periodically to reflect these changes.

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on buildings that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. Standard homeowners, business owners, and renters’ insurance policies typically don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. Flood insurance policies can be purchased from any state licensed property and casualty insurance agent. Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 888-379-9531 for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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Digital Preliminary Flood Maps for St. Johns County Ready for Public Viewing

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that due to the damage and displacement caused by recent flooding, the grace period to renew flood insurance policies has been extended to 120 days, for certain parishes in Louisiana.

“We’ve seen major destruction to communities across the state; thousands of Louisianans have been displaced,” said Roy Wright, deputy associate administrator for FEMA’s Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration.  “This extension will give policyholders one less thing to worry about, at a time when they are trying to focus on getting back into their homes safely and on beginning to rebuild their lives.” 

In order to avoid a lapse in coverage, there is typically a 30-day grace period to renew policies under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  In Louisiana, the extensive damage to homes and businesses, as well as widespread disruption of power, transportation, and communication infrastructure may affect the ability of policyholders to meet the standard 30-day deadline to renew policies.

Today’s action extends the grace period to a total of 120 days, and applies to policies in the 20 parishes declared in Louisiana: Acadia, Ascension, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington and West Feliciana.

The extension applies to all NFIP flood insurance policies in those parishes with a current grace period ending August 11, 2016, through September 10, 2016.  Affected policyholders should note that the NFIP cannot pay a flood claim that occurs after the expiration date, unless the policyholders renew their premium with their insurance carriers on or before the last day of the grace period.

As of today, more than 25,000 National Flood Insurance Program policyholders have submitted claims for flood loss.  FEMA authorized and issued more than $15 million in advance payments to NFIP policyholders in Louisiana who sustained flood-related damages to provide expedited relief to disaster survivors.  FEMA continues advising those who would like to file a claim to call their individual insurance carrier, or go to Floodsmart.gov and review the “File Your Claim” section.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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FEMA Extends Grace Period to Renew Flood Insurance Policies in Declared Louisiana Parishes

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you already registered with FEMA and your housing situation has changed, please get in touch with FEMA and update your application. Call 800-621-3362.

You may have told FEMA you were moving in with family or friends. But that situation may have changed.

You may have told FEMA you planned to stay in your flood damaged home while repairs are being made. Now that may be proving too difficult. Perhaps repairs haven’t gone as quickly as you hoped.

These and other situations may make you eligible now for temporary housing assistance.

Follow up on your application by calling the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-3362 (voice 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 for TTY users. The Helpline is staffed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. Go online to update your application at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center; find locations at www.fema.gov/DRC or by calling the Helpline.

If you have damage or losses from the June 22-29 flooding, severe storms, mudslides and landslides, don’t wait to register for aid. Use the same phone numbers and website above or visit a recovery center.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages at http://wvflood.com.

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Have your housing needs changed? Tell FEMA now.

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local hardware and home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand to provide information at area Home Depots and Lowe’s Home Improvements from July 21-27. They will be available to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

Also, if you are thinking of building a storm shelter or safe room, literature is available about the best options. Safe rooms built to FEMA specifications have saved thousands of lives.

FEMA advisors will be on hand at information centers in these stores, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
July 21-27 (except Sunday, July 24):

THE  HOME  DEPOT

Cabell County
1050 Thundering Herd Dr.
Barboursville, WV 25504

Kanawha County
100 Cross Terrace Blvd.
Charleston, WV 25309

 

LOWE’S  HOME  IMPROVEMENT

Kanawha County
5750 MacCorkle Ave. SE
Charleston, WV 25304

Raleigh County
1210 N. Eisenhower Dr.
Beckley, WV 25801.

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, will be available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

West Virginians who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at  800-621-3362  (Option 2)  between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Specialists can help service claims, provide general information regarding policies, and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages at http://wvflood.com/Pages/default.aspx

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FEMA Offers Repairing, Rebuilding Advice at Home Depot, Lowe’s

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, floods, landslides and mudslides, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local Lowe’s Home Improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand, this week and next, at in-store information centers in five area locations to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

FEMA advisors will be available at:

LOWE’S  HOME  IMPROVEMENT

Cabel County
700 Mall Rd.
Barboursville, WV 25504
7 a.m. – 7 p.m. July 14–19.

Fayette County
46 Fayette Town Center Rd.
Fayetteville, WV 25840
7 a.m. – 7 p.m. July 14–19.

Kanawha County
1000 Nitro Marketplace
Cross Lanes, WV 25313
7 a.m. – 7 p.m. July 14–19.

Nicholas County
5200 W. Webster Rd.
Summersville, WV 26651
7 a.m. – 7 p.m. July 14–19.

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, will be available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at fema.gov/what-mitigation.

West Virginians who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800-621-3362 (Option 2) between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Specialists can help service claims, provide general information regarding policies, and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages at http://wvflood.com

Original article: 

FEMA offers advice on repairing, rebuilding at local Lowe’s stores

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, floods, landslides and mudslides, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local hardware and home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand at in-store information centers, in four area locations, through July 13, to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

FEMA advisors will be available at:

HARDMAN’S

Nicholas County
1300 Webster Road, Summersville
During normal store hours. July 8–13

Roane County
109 Main Street, Spencer
During normal store hours. July 8–13

 

LOWE’S

Greenbrier County
20 Gateway Blvd., Lewisburg
7 a.m. – 7 p.m. July 8–13

Kanawha County
50 Rhl Blvd., Charleston
7 a.m. – 7 p.m. July 8–13

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage and cleaning up mold and mildew, will be available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

West Virginians who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800-621-3362 (Option 2) between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Specialists can help service claims, provide general information regarding policies, and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

Visit fema.gov/what-mitigation, for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger. For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMAfema.gov/blog and the flood information pages on the website of the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Original post: 

FEMA Offers Free Repair, Rebuild Information Sessions at Local Stores

AUSTIN, Texas – Flooding is a familiar and frequent natural disaster in Texas. Heavy rains are a consistent threat across the state, while hurricanes have caused hundreds of millions of dollars in flood damage to Texas homes and businesses in just the past few years.

A flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program offers Texas residents their best protection against loss. It takes 30 days for a new NFIP policy to go into effect. 

Hurricane season runs June 1 through Nov. 30. Will you have flood insurance in time?

“During hurricane season, Texas residents and businesses are at risk,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas. “A policy with the NFIP is one of the best ways to supplement federal assistance and protect your home and livelihood.”

Flood damage is not covered under homeowner insurance policies and there is no guarantee that federal disaster assistance will be available when a flood occurs.

Flood insurance is available to homeowners, business owners and renters.  Policies offer up to $250,000 coverage for homeowners, up to $100,000 for personal property and up to $500,000 each for business contents and buildings.

Property owners who already have flood insurance policies are encouraged to check their policy each year, update as necessary and make sure premiums remain paid in full.

For more information or to find an insurance agent near you who sells flood insurance, visit floodsmart.gov, or call the NFIP’s toll-free number at 1-888-356-6329 (1-888-FLOOD29). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 1-800-427-5593.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

# # #

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

Originally posted here – 

This Hurricane Season, Flood Insurance is a Wise Investment

ATLANTA– Newly revised preliminary digital flood insurance rate maps for coastal areas of Flagler County, FL will be available for residents to review at a public open house at the Hammock Community Center on May 5, 2016 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk for flooding, and when updated maps become effective they are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements.

The open house provides residents of Flagler County and its municipalities the opportunity to see the preliminary maps, learn about their risk of flooding, and ask questions about what the new maps will mean for their property. Residents can meet one-on-one with specialists who will be available to talk about flood insurance, engineering, building permits and more. Home and business owners, renters, realtors, mortgage lenders, surveyors and insurance agents are encouraged to attend the open house.

The open house will be held between 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The open house date and location is:

May 5

Hammock Community Center

79 Mala Compra Rd.

Palm Coast, FL 32137

The new preliminary maps were developed through a partnership among Flagler County, its municipalities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They are based on updated available modeling and data and show improved flood hazard risk better than older maps. The ultimate goal is protecting property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. Over time, flood risks change due to construction and development, environmental changes, floodplains widen or shift, and other factors. Flood maps are updated periodically to reflect these changes.

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on buildings that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. Standard homeowners, business owners, and renters insurance policies typically don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. Flood insurance policies can be purchased from any state licensed property and casualty insurance agent. Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 888-379-9531 for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Read More: 

Digital Preliminary Flood Maps for Coastal Areas of Flagler County Ready for Public Viewing

DENTON, Texas ––Residents and business owners in Harris County have new preliminary flood maps to examine. These maps will help people determine their flood risks and make informed decisions about buying flood insurance.

The preliminary maps are for the Addicks Reservoir watershed. Producing the maps was a joint effort by several entities. Harris County Flood Control District, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Harris County and community officials prepared them.

Besides helping residents decide about buying flood insurance, they also help community leaders to evaluate new developments.

The preliminary maps can be seen at an Open House, on Tuesday Feb. 2, 2016:
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Richard and Meg Weekley Community Center
8440 Greenhouse Road
Cypress, Texas 77433

The mapping follows the release of a new flood study by the Harris County Flood Control District. During the Open House, residents can get more information about the proposed changes. Experts will be on hand to answer questions related to the new maps.

“Everyone should review the maps to understand their flood risks,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Moises Dugan. “The role of the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important.”

Additional information is available, including links to the interactive mapping website on www.riskmap6.com. Residents can also contact the floodplain administrator for more details.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.  

 

More – 

Flood Risk Open House to View Updated Addicks Reservoir Maps in Harris County, Texas

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