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Your Right of Appeal for FEMA Disaster Assistance

BATON ROUGE, La. — If your house flooded and you did not have flood insurance, you may have received some federal financial assistance for the August flooding. But if your home is in a floodplain and you hold a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, you may be required to buy flood insurance.

This requirement applies when a building has been damaged and is located in an area that is at high risk of flooding. These high-risk areas are called Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs).

In high-risk areas, there is at least a one in four chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage. You may be restricted to only rental assistance in a future disaster unless you buy flood insurance and keep the policy in effect.

A flood-insurance policy protects you financially even when a presidential disaster is not declared or if you live in a parish that was not designated for federal assistance.

Once you receive federal financial assistance, you must keep flood insurance coverage at your address even if the damaged building is replaced by a new one. If you sell your home, you are required to inform the new owners that they must maintain flood insurance coverage on the building. Often, an existing flood-insurance policy can be transferred to a new owner with no lapse in coverage.

You may receive a Certificate of Flood Insurance for a Group Policy as a part of your federal Individuals and Households Assistance program (IHP) grant. This policy provides minimal coverage on the home equal to the maximum IHP grant currently available. For the Louisiana August 2016 floods, the required premium provides coverage of $33,000.

Group Policies have a term of three years, after which you will be required to purchase and maintain a Standard Flood Insurance Policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until you are no longer the homeowner or renter at that location. In order to avoid any lapse in coverage, it is important to apply for your new coverage at least 30 days before the expiration of the Group Policy.
You may cancel your participation in the Group Policy at any time during its policy term, provided that you have purchased your own NFIP flood insurance coverage.

If you are a renter and receive federal financial assistance, flood-insurance coverage must be maintained on the contents for as long as you live at the flood-damaged rental property. The requirement for flood insurance is lifted once you move from the building.

But, because federal law mandates the purchase of flood insurance as a condition of disaster funding, an applicant who does not comply with the flood insurance obligation may become mostly ineligible for future disaster assistance. It’s that important.

If you do not live in a flood zone but your home was flooded, you do not have to maintain flood insurance. Even without the legal requirement, it is a wise decision to purchase flood insurance.

Even though flood insurance isn’t federally required in moderate- to low-risk areas, homeowners and businesses that have mortgages from federally regulated or insured lenders may be required to purchase flood coverage by the mortgage holder. Anyone can be financially vulnerable to floods.

In fact, people outside of mapped high-risk flood areas file more than 20 percent of all National Flood Insurance Program flood-insurance claims and receive one-third of federal disaster assistance for flooding. When it’s available, disaster assistance is typically a loan you must repay with interest.

With all that you are going through, don’t let this vital coverage slip through the cracks. Protect yourself and your family from future financial loss by purchasing and maintaining flood insurance coverage.

For more information about the NFIP and flood insurance, call 800-427-4661 or contact your insurance company or agent.

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Your Right of Appeal for FEMA Disaster Assistance

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

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

National Flood Insurance Program Deadline Extended for Filing Claims

NEW YORK – FEMA has granted a six-month extension for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders affected by Hurricane Sandy to file proof-of-loss claims.

The deadline is Oct. 29, 2014.

NFIP usually requires policyholders to submit a fully documented, signed and sworn proof-of-loss claim within 60 days from the date of their loss.

The magnitude of the Sandy disaster is the reason for this extension that will give policyholders additional time to file claims. This is the third six-month extension.

The Proof of Loss document is included in the claims package that documents flood losses. The claims package should include:

• photos and/or video of the flooding and resulting damage

• a comprehensive, itemized list of what was damaged

• receipts, if possible, for damaged items along with any other supporting documents showing the value of what you lost

To download a blank NFIP Proof of Loss document: http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2545

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National Flood Insurance Program Deadline Extended for Filing Claims

Extension for Coloradans filing NFIP claims

DENVER – FEMA has an important message regarding filing a federal flood insurance claim.

An additional 21 days is added to the normal 60-day deadline to file your proof of loss flood claim with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

This extension applies to flood damage related to Colorado flooding occurring between Sept. 10, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2013.

If you sustained from the September flooding, you should file your NFIP claim now.

For any questions, visit your insurance agent.

Please also refer to floodsmart.gov for more information about flood insurance.

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Extension for Coloradans filing NFIP claims

Any Colorado Resident with an NFIP Policy has 60 Days to File a Claim

DENVER – FEMA has an important message concerning who may file a federal flood insurance claim.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy holders in any Colorado county are eligible to file a flood claim. Policy holders do not have to live in a disaster-designated county.

Any Colorado resident covered by NFIP with flood damage should file a claim within 60 days of the date of loss. As an example, if the flood damage was on Sept. 10, the claim must be filed by Nov. 9.

To date, NFIP has paid out $22 million to Colorado policy holders this year.

Floods are the most common and costly natural disasters in the United States.

NFIP policies are sold and serviced through many private insurance companies. The policies cover physical damage to a building or personal property that is directly caused by a flood. For example, damage resulting from a sewer backup is covered if the problem is a direct result of flooding. However, if the backup is caused by something else, the damage is not covered.

Please also refer to floodsmart.gov for more information about flood insurance.

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Any Colorado Resident with an NFIP Policy has 60 Days to File a Claim

Talk to Local Officials Before Rebuilding Your Flood-Damaged Home

DENVER– Before beginning any repair work, property owners should contact their local building officials to find out what permits are required to repair or rebuild.

Some Colorado property owners may find that September’s flood has caused substantial damage to their home or business.

Substantial damage is defined by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as a home or structure that has incurred substantial damage, is located in a special flood hazard area and the total cost of repairs is 50 percent or more of the structure’s pre-event market value.

Local building officials make the determination that substantial damage has occurred.

When local officials determine a building is located in a special flood hazard area and has substantial damage, the structure must be brought into compliance under the community’s current building ordinances and regulations.

For more information on general flood insurance, contact your local floodplain administrator, the National Flood Insurance Program at 800-427-4661 or your local insurance agent. Information also is available at www.fema.gov and floodsmart.gov.

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Talk to Local Officials Before Rebuilding Your Flood-Damaged Home

Floods Happen: Protect Your Home & Family

Tropical Storm Irene, Hurricane Sandy, and severe snow and rain storms in New England illustrate our region’s vulnerability to damage at the hands of nature. While New England’s states, cities and towns work to rebuild and clean up after these events, we urge you to prepare your home and family for future storms, and to practice smart risk management. Anticipating disasters while putting plans and insurance in place can help you protect homes, businesses, and finances, and recover more quickly.

Sandy survivors know all too well that one damaging storm can wipe out a home’s history of durability, and cause flooding in areas that seemed safe from harm. Flooding is a major risk for both coastal and inland communities in New England, and many residents need to have flood insurance – an important piece of risk management and preparedness.

Last year Congress passed the Biggert Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 with the goals of making the National Flood Insurance Program more financially stable, and more accurately identifying flood risks. This reform means rate increases for many policyholders living both inland and on the coast. Now is the time to find out how this law impacts you:

You may be required to purchase flood insurance, even if you weren’t required to in the past. Floodplain maps which are used to determine flood risks are being revised with the use of better science and technology, and structures which were not formerly in the high hazard flood areas might now be in harm’s way based on the new mapping data.
Flood insurance rates are increasing annually for older buildings in the high hazard floodplain zones. Find out if this will affect you and your property.

To find out how these changes will affect you, start by taking these steps:

Contact your local town government to determine if you’re in the floodplain:
Find out if you or your community are eligible for federal grants to help pay for elevating or modifying your home
Contact your insurance agent to learn about options for protecting your home and family:
Ask about premium quotes and Elevation Certificates, and consider the annual premium savings that elevating or modifying your home may provide.
Find out how your community can save you some of the cost of flood insurance – learn more about the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System here.

For more information about recent changes to the National Flood Insurance Program, and how those changes may affect you, click here. To find out more about risk management visit ready.gov.

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Floods Happen: Protect Your Home & Family

Graham County Makes Flood Insurance Available to its Residents and Property Owners

ATLANTA – Graham County, N.C. is now a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which means property owners in unincorporated areas of Graham County can purchase federally-underwritten flood insurance.

On March 21, 2013, Graham County was re-instated into the NFIP and is now among nearly 22,000 communities participating in the program nationwide. The NFIP does more than make flood insurance available; it also supports local communities in their efforts to reduce the risk and consequences of serious flooding. In order to participate in the program, a community must agree to adopt and enforce sound floodplain management regulations and ordinances to reduce future flood damage. In exchange for these practices, flood insurance is available to homeowners, business owners and renters in participating communities.

Standard homeowner’s, business owner’s, and renter’s insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, so a separate flood insurance policy can provide property owners with financial protection against the devastating effects of flooding. Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S., so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone.

Even if you don’t live in an area at high-risk of flooding, you should still consider flood insurance because anyone can be financially vulnerable to floods. In fact, about 25 percent of flood insurance claims occur in lower risk flood zones.

The NFIP is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency which works with nearly 90 private insurance companies to provide flood insurance to property owners and renters in NFIP-participating communities. Flood insurance policies may be written by state-licensed property and casualty insurance agents.

For more information on the National Flood Insurance Program, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

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Graham County Makes Flood Insurance Available to its Residents and Property Owners

National Flood Insurance Program Probation for Port Vincent, Louisiana

DENTON, Texas- Efforts are ongoing by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist the village of Port Vincent, Louisiana hold on to its National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) status; a status that it is in jeopardy of losing if it does not correct current floodplain management violations.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) makes flood insurance available in communities where minimum local floodplain management standards are adopted and enforced. FEMA recently issued a letter to Port Vincent that establishes a deadline of March 1, 2013 for the village to correct certain violations and program deficiencies.

The deficiencies cited in the probation letter include the failure to manage floodplain development in accordance with the village’s floodplain program and a lack of adequate administrative procedures and record keeping.

While the village works to correct these violations, property owners will still be able to purchase and renew flood insurance coverage during the probationary period. However, a $50 surcharge will be added to any policy sold or renewed in the community for the next year beginning on March 1, 2013. There are currently 103 flood insurance policies in the village.

If the village fails to make progress by Sept. 1, 2013, it could be suspended from the program. The result of suspension is the loss of federally backed flood insurance in the community. Residents in the village will not be able to purchase or renew their flood insurance policies after the suspension occurs.

Additionally, if a flood disaster occurs in a suspended community, most types of federal disaster assistance for structures within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), including federal assistance to individuals and households is not available. Also, the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 prohibits federal agencies from making grants, loans, or guarantees for the acquisition or construction of structures located in a SFHA.

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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 http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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National Flood Insurance Program Probation for Port Vincent, Louisiana

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Needed

Agency officials Urge Congressional Action for Reauthorization

Release Date: April 23, 2012
Release Number: HQ-12-31

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program is scheduled to expire on May 31 unless Congress acts, in advance, to reauthorize it. The program helps make federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters and business owners in communities.

“Without reauthorization, the NFIP will be unable to issue new policies, renew existing policies, or modify policies to increase coverage on the existing policy.” said David Miller, Associate Administrator for FEMA’s Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration. “Reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program is the prudent thing to do. FEMA is urging Congress to reauthorize the NFIP and send a clear signal to citizens, communities, and private sector partners that the federal government will continue to support our nation’s efforts to manage flood risk.”

Floods continue to be the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States and the NFIP plays a key role in our nation’s efforts to prevent and recover from flood disasters. The NFIP was created in 1968 to help lessen the financial impact of flood disasters on individuals, business, and all levels of government that would otherwise only be available through a limited pool of private insurance.

Under the NFIP, federally backed flood insurance is made available to homeowners, renters and business owners in communities that adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances designed to reduce future flood losses by regulating new construction. The NFIP identifies areas of flood risk; encourages communities to implement measures to mitigate against the risk of flood loss; provides financial assistance to help individuals recover rapidly from flooding disasters; and lessens the financial impact of flood disasters on individuals, businesses, and all levels of government.

Without the NFIP in place, many individuals, families, businesses and local communities will find themselves left vulnerable to the devastating effects of flooding. Property owners in high risk areas, who would normally be required to purchase flood insurance to fulfill lending requirements will be unable to obtain affordable flood insurance.

The National Association of REALTORS estimates that a lapse in authorization jeopardizes an estimated 40,000 mortgage closings per month for individuals purchasing property mapped in a special flood hazard area. In addition, if the NFIP experiences a lapse in authorization, the cash flow into the program from premiums will diminish, and the NFIP may have to halt payment of claims for survivors who have recently experienced flooding, including those impacted by recent hurricanes Irene and Lee.

In recent years, a series of short-term reauthorizations and temporary suspensions of the NFIP have had a negative impact on the confidence in the program among citizens and stakeholders, including state governments, tribal governments, local communities, individual policyholders, mortgage lenders, and the private insurance industry. FEMA is asking Congress to support a two year reauthorization and affirm its commitment to citizens, communities, and private sector partners that the federal government will continue to support our nation’s efforts to manage flood risk.

Follow FEMA online at 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.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 24-Apr-2012 17:23:48

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FEMA National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Needed