Don’t Forget to File a Flood Insurance Claim

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ‒ Homeowners and business owners who experienced flooding during the April 28 to May 5 presidentially declared disaster should file a claim for flooding loss as soon as possible, as claimants must file for their losses within 60 days of the event. 

Contact your agent or insurance company to file a claim. An adjuster from the insurance company should contact you within a few days of filing a claim. If you do not hear from an adjuster, call your insurance agent or company again. Make sure you have the following information handy:

  • The name of your insurance company.
  • Your policy number.
  • A telephone and/or email address where you can be reached at all times.

Remember, a flood insurance policy is usually separate from your homeowner’s policy, which in most cases does not pay for flood claims.

Next, separate damaged from undamaged property. Your adjuster will need evidence of the damage to your home and possessions to prepare your repair estimate.

  • Take photographs of all damaged property, including discarded objects, structural damage and standing floodwater levels.
  • Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their date of purchase, value and receipts, if possible.
  • Officials may require disposal of damaged items, so if possible, place flooded items outside of the home.

Finally, your adjuster will provide you with a Proof of Loss form for your official claim for damages. Remember, you must file this claim with your insurance company within 60 days of the flood – or by the end of June.

This document substantiates the insurance claim and is required before the National Flood Insurance Program or insurance company can make payment.

You will receive your claim payment after you and the insurer agree on the amount of damages and the insurer has your complete, accurate and signed Proof of Loss form. If major catastrophic flooding occurs, it may take longer to process claims and make payments due to the sheer number of claims submitted.

For general flood insurance questions, call the National Flood Insurance Call Center at 800-427-4661directly or through 711 Relay or contact your insurance company or agent.

 

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Don’t Forget to File a Flood Insurance Claim

Five Months Remain Before Lincoln County, New Mexico Flood Maps Become Final

DENTON, Texas ––In five months, new flood maps for Lincoln County, New Mexico will become effective.

Local, state and federal officials are encouraging everyone to view the maps before Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014 in order to understand their flood risk and then consider buying flood insurance.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of a flood. Floods can place people at risk of uninsured loss to their businesses, homes and personal property if they don’t have either a private flood insurance policy or coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary protection program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the U.S. and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “Where there is rain, there could be flooding,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “Everyone lives in a flood zone.”

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, contact your local floodplain administrator.

FEMA map specialists and flood insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat. 

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to obtaining information about insurance. Folks can visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in their area.

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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 us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Five Months Remain Before Lincoln County, New Mexico Flood Maps Become Final

FEMA Announces Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

WASHINGTON — Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is announcing $112 million in funding available through two Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs: Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM). These two grant programs assist state, local, tribal, and territorial governments in strengthening our nation’s ability to reduce the potential cost of natural disasters to communities and their citizens.

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs provide states, tribes, territories, and local governments funding for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation’s ability to reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damages.

The Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program provides funds on an annual basis so that measures can be taken to reduce or eliminate risk of flood damage to buildings insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The FY 2014 Flood Mitigation Assistance grants will continue to focus on reducing or eliminating claims under the NFIP with a focus on mitigation planning and the mitigation of severe repetitive loss properties.

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program provides funds on an annual basis for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster. The goal of the Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program is to reduce overall risk to the population and structures, while at the same time, also reducing reliance on federal funding from actual disaster declarations. The FY 2014 Pre-Disaster Mitigation grants will continue to focus on implementing a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program and provide the grant funding set aside as required in the Stafford Act to states and tribes to support overall mitigation planning and projects.

Both Hazard Mitigation Assistance FY 2014 Funding Opportunity Announcements can be found at www.grants.gov. Eligible applicants must apply for funding through the Mitigation eGrants system on the FEMA Grants Portal accessible at https://portal.fema.gov. FEMA will open the application period on April 21, 2014. All applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 25, 2014.

Further information on these grant programs is available at www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance.

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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. 

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.

Link:  

FEMA Announces Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

FEMA Announces Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

WASHINGTON — Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is announcing $112 million in funding available through two Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs: Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM). These two grant programs assist state, local, tribal, and territorial governments in strengthening our nation’s ability to reduce the potential cost of natural disasters to communities and their citizens.

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs provide states, tribes, territories, and local governments funding for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation’s ability to reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damages.

The Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program provides funds on an annual basis so that measures can be taken to reduce or eliminate risk of flood damage to buildings insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The FY 2014 Flood Mitigation Assistance grants will continue to focus on reducing or eliminating claims under the NFIP with a focus on mitigation planning and the mitigation of severe repetitive loss properties.

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program provides funds on an annual basis for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster. The goal of the Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program is to reduce overall risk to the population and structures, while at the same time, also reducing reliance on federal funding from actual disaster declarations. The FY 2014 Pre-Disaster Mitigation grants will continue to focus on implementing a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program and provide the grant funding set aside as required in the Stafford Act to states and tribes to support overall mitigation planning and projects.

Both Hazard Mitigation Assistance FY 2014 Funding Opportunity Announcements can be found at www.grants.gov. Eligible applicants must apply for funding through the Mitigation eGrants system on the FEMA Grants Portal accessible at https://portal.fema.gov. FEMA will open the application period on April 21, 2014. All applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 25, 2014.

Further information on these grant programs is available at www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance.

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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. 

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.

Jump to original – 

FEMA Announces Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

Now is the Time to Buy Flood Insurance

DENVER —With mountain snowpack high and rainy months on the way, now is the time to buy flood insurance, say state and federal emergency management officials.

In most circumstances, there is a 30-day waiting period from the time the policy is written and the premium is paid until the policy goes into effect. That means a policy purchased today, April 2, would not go into effect until May 2. It also means that a policy purchased a few weeks from today might not be in effect when spring runoff starts.

National Flood Insurance Program policies are available for homeowners, businesses and renters and include coverage for the structure and contents. Policy limits are $250,000 for residential structures and $100,000 for residential contents. Business structures and contents can be insured for up to $500,000 each. Renter content policies are available with a limit of $100,000.

As many survivors of last September’s disaster can attest, small creeks and even dry ditches can quickly turn into wide raging rivers. In fact, most flood insurance payments across the country are paid out to people who did not live in a Special Flood Hazard Area, or floodplain.

People who do live in a Special Flood Hazard Area, and who have a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance. Also, anyone who lives in an A or V flood zone, and who received Individual Assistance from FEMA for last September’s flood damage, must have flood insurance or they will jeopardize federal assistance for any future flood declaration.

Flood insurance is available only to people who live or own businesses in a participating community with an approved flood hazard plan. To find out if you live in a Special Flood Hazard Area, contact your floodplain manager through your local or county government.

People with flood insurance can collect payments for damages sustained in most flooding events, even if the flooding does not result in a disaster declaration.

The process and the rules can get complicated, so emergency officials urge anyone thinking about flood insurance to contact an insurance agent for more information. To find an agent or for more information on flood insurance, visit floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531.

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Now is the Time to Buy Flood Insurance

FEMA Releases Preliminary Work Maps for Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties, New Jersey

LINCROFT, N.J. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released Preliminary Work Maps for Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties, NJ that reflect the latest refinements to the ongoing analysis of coastal flood hazards.

The release of the Preliminary Work Maps is the next step in the coastal Flood Insurance Study update. This is extremely important as we work in partnership with the State of New Jersey to support sustainable disaster resilient communities; and to avoid or reduce the loss of life, loss of property, and financial impacts of coastal flood hazards.

The Preliminary Work Maps are an interim step in the process of developing preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). This information will replace the Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps, where applicable, that were made available to coastal counties in New Jersey as the best available data for rebuilding and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
As compared to the effective FIRMs for New Jersey, the Preliminary Work Maps show that the majority of areas will see increases in the floodplain and Base Flood Elevations (BFEs); however, some areas may see decreases.  These changes are due primarily to more precise ground elevation data and more detailed analysis.

FEMA encourages communities to use this information in instances where BFEs have increased and/or new Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are shown on the Preliminary Work Maps. This will help community members make decisions to reduce their flood risk until the preliminary FIRMs become effective.

Please visit www.Region2Coastal.com for more information on the Preliminary Work Maps.  For more information on New Jersey’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNJ, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later
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

See original article here: 

FEMA Releases Preliminary Work Maps for Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties, New Jersey

March 16-22 Is Flood Safety Awareness Week

DENTON, Texas –   Do you know what to do before, during and after a flood? Find out during Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 16-22. Emergency management experts will be reminding the public about the dangers related to flooding, ways to prepare for flood events and to prevent future damage from floods.

“Flooding is the nation’s number one natural disaster and it can happen in any of our regional states,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson.  “Homeowners, renters and business owners should find out if their home or business is at risk for flood and then take steps to address that risk.”

Before a Flood
• Avoid building in a floodplain unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
• Elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.
• Build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.

During a Flood
• Listen to local officials and monitor your local radio or television for information.
• Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If it does, immediately move to higher ground. 
• Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons and other areas known to suddenly flood.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. Turn Around; Don’t Drown. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles.

After a Flood
• Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage.
• Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
• Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened.
• Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.

Find more information on flooding, flood hazards, and flood insurance at www.floodsmart.gov, http://www.ready.gov/floods and www.nws.noaa.gov/floodsafety/.

 

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.

Link – 

March 16-22 Is Flood Safety Awareness Week

There’s More to NFIP than Just the Policy

DENVER – Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States.  Recent years have seen more frequent severe weather events, like Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the East Coast.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that provides flood insurance policies that provide millions of Americans their first line of defense against flooding.  But those flood insurance policies are only one component of the program and just part of the protection NFIP provides to individuals and the American public at large.

For anyone to be able to purchase an NFIP policy, the only requirement is that they live in a participating community.  A participating community can be a town or city or a larger jurisdiction like a township or county that includes unincorporated areas.  It is up to the community to opt into the NFIP program for the benefit of its citizens.  When joining the program, the community agrees to assess flood risks and to establish floodplain management ordinances.  In return for taking these actions, residents are able to purchase federally backed flood insurance policies.

One of the cornerstones of the NFIP is the flood mapping program.  FEMA works with states and local communities to conduct studies on flood risks and develop maps that show the level of risk for that area, called a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).  The FIRM provides useful information that can assist in communities in planning development.  The area that has the highest risk of flooding is the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), commonly called the floodplain.  The SFHA has a one percent chance of being flooded in any given year.  Because of the greater risk, premiums for flood insurance policies for properties in the SFHA are greater than for those for properties outside of it. 

Equally important to knowing the risks of flooding is having a game plan to address those risks.  This is role of floodplain management.  Local communities must comply with minimum national standards established by FEMA, but are free to develop stricter codes and ordinances should they choose to do so.  Key elements of floodplain management include building codes for construction in the floodplain and limitations on development in high risk areas.  Floodplain management is an ongoing process, with communities continually reassessing their needs as new data becomes available and the flood risk for areas may change.

The NFIP brings all levels of government together with insurers and private citizens to protect against the threat of flooding.  Federally sponsored flood maps and locally developed floodplain regulations give property owners the picture of their risk and ensure building practices are in place to minimize that risk.  As a property owner, purchasing a flood insurance policy is a measure you can take to further protect yourself.  To find out more about your individual risk contact your local floodplain administrator. For more information on flood insurance policies or to find an agent, visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.

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: 

There’s More to NFIP than Just the Policy

FEMA Releases Flood Map Revision for Fishkill and Wappinger

New York—The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released a flood map revision for areas in Dutchess County which received flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) in 2012.  Communities impacted by this map change include the Town of Fishkill and the Town of Wappinger.

This revision shows the 1% annual chance flood hazard as decreasing, and incorporation of this new information into the maps will allow for an improvement in the precision of the flood hazard information shown on the 2012 effective maps.

FEMA will use the Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) process to update the FIRMs.  After the LOMR has gone in to effect, FEMA, under existing authorities, will offer insurance refunds for the current policy year to property owners whose homes were removed from the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).  Refunds will only be available to homeowners who have not received claim payments under their National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy. 

Prior to the LOMR becoming effective, FEMA must produce revised mapping products and allow for a statutorily required 90-day appeals period.  Upon resolving all appeals, FEMA will issue an effective LOMR.  FEMA estimates the revised maps to become effective in April of 2014. 

In close coordination with the Towns of Fishkill and Wappinger, FEMA expects to participate in a public meeting with residents as soon as possible to assist each property owner with specific guidance on how to utilize the revised maps.

For more information on the revision and what it means for an individual property owner, residents should contact their local floodplain administrator.  Copies of the revision have been provided to the Towns for their use and dissemination.

 

Region II External Affairs: (212) 680-3616;  FEMA-R2-ExternalAffairs@fema.dhs.gov

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FEMA Releases Flood Map Revision for Fishkill and Wappinger

A Year After Hurricane Sandy: New York Recovery By The Numbers

Oct. 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy strikes with a storm surge weather experts in New York had never seen before.

The first 48 hours

  • 1,200 FEMA specialists on the ground in New York
  • Five mobile disaster recovery centers open
  • 350 ambulances deployed from around the country to New York
  • 11 disaster medical assistance teams and U.S. Public Health Service officers arrive
  • Oct. 31, 2012, the first FEMA Individual Assistance grants approved for $1.7 million
  • U.S. Department of Transportation authorizes $10 million for repairs to roads, bridges and tunnels

Response milestones at one year (as of Oct. 15)

  • More than $8.3 billion in total federal assistance approved for Individual Assistance grants, SBA low-interest disaster loans, National Flood Insurance Program payments and Public Assistance grants.

Individual Assistance

  • More than $1 billion approved for individuals and households including:
    • More than $857 million for housing assistance
    • More than $145 million for other needs, including clothing, household items, disaster-related damage to a vehicle, and disaster-related medical and dental expenses
  • 272,045 contacted FEMA for help or information
  • 185,208 housing inspections completed
  • 65 disaster recovery centers opened
  • 183,145 visits to disaster recovery centers
  • 5,944 individuals and families housed temporarily in hotel rooms under the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program
  • 5,592 survivors received disaster unemployment assistance

U.S. Small Business Administration

  • More than $1.5 billion in SBA low-interest disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses

National Flood Insurance Program

  • More than $3.7 billion in flood insurance payments made to policyholders

Public Assistance

  • More than $2.1 billion approved in FEMA Public Assistance grants to communities and some nonprofit organizations that serve the public
  • 2,712 projects approved so far
  • More than 21,000 families were able to remain in their homes while repairs were made because of the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power and the New York City Rapid Repairs programs

A whole community response

  • 500 voluntary agencies involved in recovery
  • More than 3.2 million meals and 2.4 million liters of water distributed
  • 26 languages used to communicate assistance information to survivors
  • More than 1 million multilingual fliers distributed
  • Power restored for 2.1 million New Yorkers
  • Nearly 6.4 million cubic yards of debris removed
  • At peak, more than 4,150 deployed to New York by FEMA and other federal agencies
  • 42 federal agencies assisted FEMA during Hurricane Sandy in New York
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drained 149.7 million gallons of water from the New York City metro area, equivalent to 227 Olympic-sized swimming pools
  • The Corps supplied 211 generators that produced power equivalent to meeting the requirements for 50,000 single-family homes
  • Approximately 1.1 million pounds of food provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • The Defense Logistics Agency delivered 2.3 million gallons of fuel to distribution points in New York and New Jersey
  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration assigned navigation response vessels to survey the Port of New York for navigation hazards

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A Year After Hurricane Sandy: New York Recovery By The Numbers

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