Apply for Increased Cost of Compliance Within 60 Days of Substantial Damage Letter

BATON ROUGE, La. — Request funds to make your structure safer and stronger within 60 days after your community notifies you it is substantially damaged.

If you’re rebuilding or repairing a substantially damaged home or business, your community may require you to elevate or make other changes. Substantial damage applies when the cost of restoring a structure equals or exceeds 50 percent of its pre-damage market value, but some communities have more restrictive regulations.

Your National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy may provide up to $30,000 to update your structure so it meets local floodplain management regulations. You must first submit a signed Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Proof of Loss form to your insurance company.

Provide a contractor’s estimate for the proposed ICC-eligible measures to your home or business and copies of construction permits. Your insurance company needs these to consider an ICC claim.

Structures that comply with floodplain management regulations have an enhanced ability to withstand storms and floods. Examples of ICC measures include elevation, relocation and floodproofing.

You have six years from the date of loss to complete the chosen and approved ICC measures.

Go online to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s website at www.8.dotd.la.gov/lafloods/community_contacts.aspx to find your community’s floodplain administrator or permitting official if you want to learn more about the substantial damage determination process.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) may be another source of funds to make your home or business safer and stronger.

If your loan application is approved, you may be eligible for additional funds to pay for improvements that will protect your property against future damage. The funds would be in addition to the amount of the approved loan.

For more information, call the SBA at 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339. You may also go online to sba.gov/disaster.

 

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Apply for Increased Cost of Compliance Within 60 Days of Substantial Damage Letter

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

Future Disaster Assistance? Keep Flood Insurance Current

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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Future Disaster Assistance? Keep Flood Insurance Current

This Hurricane Season, Flood Insurance is a Wise Investment

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.

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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.

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

Preliminary Flood Maps for Three Texas Counties Ready for Public View

DENTON, Texas – New preliminary flood maps for residents of Chambers, Liberty and San Jacinto counties area ready for residents to review. Communities affected by the maps include Liberty, Dayton, Dayton Lakes, and Mont Belvieu.

These maps help homeowners and businesses decide about purchasing flood insurance. By knowing their risks, individuals and community leaders can make informed decisions about building and development.  
    
“We’ve worked with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the area. We hope that everyone reviews the maps to understand the flood risks involved,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “It is very important for the community to be an active partner in the flood mapping process.”

To see the revised flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator. He or she may be located at City Hall or the local county government building. You can also visit http://msc.fema.gov/portal or http://maps.riskmap6.com. To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call
1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.

What happens after flood risks are identified? The next step is to consider purchasing a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in your area.
                                             

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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Preliminary Flood Maps for Three Texas Counties Ready for Public View

Revised Preliminary Flood Maps for Jim Wells County, Texas, Available for Review

DENTON, Texas – Homeowners, renters and business owners are encouraged to review revised preliminary flood maps for Jim Wells County, Texas. These maps help homeowners and businesses decide about purchasing flood insurance. By knowing the risks, individuals and community leaders can make informed decisions about building and development. 

“We’ve worked with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the county. We hope that everyone reviews the maps to understand the flood risks involved,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “Having the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important.”

To see the revised flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator. He or she may be located at city hall or the local county government building. You can also visit http://msc.fema.gov/portal or http://maps.riskmap6.com. To contact a FEMA map specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.

What happens after flood risks are identified? The next step is to consider purchasing a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program. Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in your 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 http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

 

Originally posted here – 

Revised Preliminary Flood Maps for Jim Wells County, Texas, Available for Review

Homeowners and Owners of Second Homes Have Every Reason to Buy Flood Insurance

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – After five years of drought, many owners of homes and second homes in California may shrug off the suggestion of buying flood insurance. El Niño and the recent wildfires may change the minds of many.

In California, El Niño means extremely heavy rainfall that could lead to devastating flooding, especially in areas affected by prolonged drought and recent wildfires.

The winter of 1997 was one of the strongest El Niños on record. The rains were so unrelenting in California that they led to mudslides, causing houses to crumble off disintegrating cliffs and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

This winter’s El Niño is expected to be as strong or even stronger. El Niño conditions will be strongest between January and late March, and could linger through May.

While flood insurance cannot prevent damage to a home, it is a good investment for protecting it. Property owners can purchase up to $250,000 in building coverage and up to $100,000 for contents.

Especially vulnerable are the areas where wildfires hit. Burn scars leave the ground unable to absorb water, creating conditions ripe for flash flooding and mudflow for up to five years until the vegetation is restored.

Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and covers a general and temporary condition of rapid and unusual accumulation of surface water displaced over two acres or two properties as defined in the standard NFIP policy.

Since there is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance coverage becomes effective, property owners are urged to speak with their local insurance agent soon.

For additional information on the NFIP or to find an agent, call 800-427-2419 or visit www.floodsmart.gov.

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.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

Continue reading – 

Homeowners and Owners of Second Homes Have Every Reason to Buy Flood Insurance

Oklahomans Have One Week Left to Register for FEMA Assistance

OKLAHOMA CITY –There is only one week left for Oklahomans who sustained damages from the May 5 through June 22 storms to apply for state and federal disaster assistance.

Residents and business owners in the 45 counties approved for Individual Assistance have until August 26 to seek assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The designated counties are Adair, Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Delaware, Garvin, Grady, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Kiowa, Latimer, Le Flore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Stephens, Tillman, Tulsa and Wagoner.

To date, more than $47.5 million has been provided to Oklahoma disaster survivors. This assistance includes $16.9 million in funding for disaster related housing needs and other disaster related expenses, more than $19.9 million in SBA loans, and more than $10.6 million in payments to policyholders with the National Flood Insurance Program.

SBA has issued 1,546 applications for low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and businesses. More than $18 million has been approved for homeowners and more than $1.8 million has been approved for business owners rebuilding after the storms.
There have been more than 10,720 total registrations for assistance.  There are several ways to register for assistance. Call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov using a computer, tablet or smartphone.

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Oklahomans Have One Week Left to Register for FEMA Assistance

Talbot County Lowers Flood Insurance Premiums

PHILADELPHIA – Residents of Talbot County, Maryland have received a reduction in their flood insurance premiums through increase of various floodplain management measures encouraged by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) oversees the NFIP, which administers a program called the Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary, incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed minimum NFIP requirements. The program includes 10 different class rating levels based on the number and type of activities voluntarily initiated by the participating community. Each level corresponds to a percentage discount on National Flood Insurance policy premiums within the municipality.

As a member of the Community Rating System, Talbot County is within an elite group of 12 Maryland communities that have received this recognition. With the continued steps taken by Talbot County to protect its citizens and increase its resiliency, it entered into the program as a Class 8 Community Rating System participant on October 1, 2014. The Class 8 rating qualifies eligible National Flood Insurance Program policy holders in the County for an average of over $110 in savings on their annual premiums. In total, participation in the program accounts for a total savings of nearly $107,000 annually for citizens of Talbot County.

Under the CRS, local officials are asked to meet three goals: (1) reduce flood losses; (2) facilitate accurate insurance rating; and (3) promote the awareness of flood insurance. Communities can earn a CRS rating by submitting an application explaining the projects they have in place or development. Once the information is verified and approved, FEMA provides flood insurance premium discounts through the NFIP. The amount of a property owner’s policy discount is based on the community’s CRS rating.

For each Class that a community moves up to, it provides its residents with an additional 5% reduction in their flood insurance premiums up to the 45% reduction that a Class 1 community receives. As a Class 8 community, Talbot County enables its residents to receive a 10% reduction on qualified flood insurance premiums.

For information about flood insurance, property owners should contact their insurance agent, visit floodsmart.gov, or call the NFIP’s toll-free information line at 800-427-4661. To learn more about the CRS, visit floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/page/crs/community_rating_system.jsp.

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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

Media Contact: FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov

Originally posted here:

Talbot County Lowers Flood Insurance Premiums

Hurricane Sandy: After Two Years, $6.67 Billion, FEMA Continues N.J. Recovery

EATONTOWN, N.J. – Since Hurricane Sandy made landfall Oct. 29, 2012, FEMA, in partnership with the federal family and state and local governments, has been on the scene helping individuals, government entities and eligible non-profits as New Jersey recovers from the storm’s devastation.

FEMA has funded more than 5,185 Public Assistance projects including repairing and restoring hospitals, schools, waterways, parks, beaches, marinas, water treatment plants and public buildings. A roster of services has been restored, including utilities critical to everyday life. Billions of federal dollars have been expended during the past two years. The numbers below tell the story. In the two years since Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey:

                                 $6.67 billion      has been provided to the state of New Jersey for Hurricane Sandy Recovery.

 

                               $422.9 million     has been distributed to help survivors get back on their feet via temporary housing assistance, disaster

                                                           unemployment and other needs assistance.

 

                                   $3.5 billion      has been paid to policyholders for flood claims through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program.

 

                                   $1.5 billion      in Public Assistance funds has been obligated to communities and certain non-profit organizations for debris

                                                            removal, emergency work and permanent work.

 

                              $279.5 million      in grants has been provided for projects to protect damaged facilities against future disasters.

 

                              $123.9 million      in funding for property acquisitions, elevation and planning updates has been paid to New Jersey communities

                                                            through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

 

                               $847.7 million     has been approved by the Small Business Administration for SBA disaster loans to 10,726 individuals and

                                                           1,718 small businesses. 

          

To learn more about FEMA Public Assistance in New Jersey visit: fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/plan/public-assist.html.  For more information, visit http://www.fema.gov/sandy-recovery-office or the New Jersey Sandy Recovery website at http://www.fema.gov/new-jersey-sandy-recovery-0

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 post: 

Hurricane Sandy: After Two Years, $6.67 Billion, FEMA Continues N.J. Recovery

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