NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP): THE BASICS & UPDATE ON THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS Mary-Carson Stiff, JD, CFM Shannon Hulst Jarbeau, CFM Closing the Deal: How to respond to the new realities of flood insurance May 19, 2015
Dec 23, 2015
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP):THE BASICS & UPDATE ON THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
Mary-Carson Stiff, JD, CFMShannon Hulst Jarbeau, CFM
Closing the Deal: How to respond to the new realities of flood insurance
May 19, 2015
THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP) – OVERVIEW
• Voluntary insurance program that local governments (cities, counties, towns, etc.) may choose to join.
• Created in 1968 by the National Flood Insurance Act
• Managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP)
• MAP: Mapping Flood Hazards• Where will it flood during storms?
• RISK: Managing Floodplains (High Risk Areas)• To receive the benefits of enrolling in the
NFIP, local governments must meet a number of minimum regulatory requirements • Ex: Reducing flooding through zoning, building codes, etc.
• INSURE: Providing Flood Insurance • Flood insurance premiums at a low-cost
THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP) – BENEFITS
• Joining the NFIP allows citizens and businesses within a locality to receive flood insurance that is typically low-cost, as compared to many private companies
• Joining the NFIP makes local governments eligible to receive certain disaster assistance grant $$ after storm events
• Over time, localities become safer by implementing regulations to protect people and property from flooding
NFIP: MAPPING FLOOD HAZARDS – THE SFHA
• When a local government enrolls in the NFIP, FEMA creates maps for the land according to different levels of flood risk • Maps are divided by ZONES that identify levels of risk
• The high-risk areas, or those areas most prone to flooding, are called “Special Flood Hazard Areas” (SFHA)
• The SFHA represents how far and how high flood waters will reach during the 100-year-storm• The 100-year-storm is a storm producing flooding that has a 1%
chance of happening in any given year
NFIP: WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT SFHAS?
• RISK: There is a 26% chance that a property located in the SFHA will experience flooding over the course of a 30-year mortgage
• INSURANCE: Properties located in the SFHA that have a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, then flood insurance is required.
• Flood insurance is NOT included in traditional homeowners insurance
• NOTE: Banks may require property owners to purchase flood insurance, even if the property is located outside the SFHA.
MAPPING FLOOD HAZARDS: SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA (SFHA) ON VIRGINIA’S PENINSULAS
Dark Blue = SFHA
Source: http://riskmap3.com/VA
MAPPING FLOOD HAZARDS: FEMA FLOOD MAP FOR MATHEWS, VIRGINIA
SFHA = Flood Zones that begin with
A or V
Red = Zone VEBlue = Zone AEYellow/Tan = Zone X
SFHA = Red & Blue
Source: http://maps.riskmap3.com/VA/Mathews/
MAPPING FLOOD HAZARDS: FEMA FLOOD MAP FOR MATHEWS, VIRGINIA (ZOOMED IN)
SFHA = Flood Zones that begin with
A or V
Red = Zone VEBlue = Zone AEYellow/Clear = Zone X
SFHA = Red & Blue
Source: http://maps.riskmap3.com/VA/Mathews/
MAPPING FLOOD HAZARDS: SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA
MAPPING FLOOD HAZARDS: DIRECTING PROPERTY OWNERS, BUYERS, SELLERS TO FLOOD MAPS
• In Person: Individuals can call the city/county office and ask to speak with the floodplain manager to see whether a property is located in the SFHA and whether flood insurance is required
• Online: Individuals can determine their own flood risk by accessing flood maps for coastal Virginia online:http://riskmap3.com/VA
NFIP: PROVIDING FLOOD INSURANCE
• NFIP offers affordable coverage & is available almost everywhere in US• Get NFIP policy through local agents
• FEMA determines flood insurance rates for the NFIP using flood maps
• Required for properties located in the SFHA zones
• Flood insurance is not included in homeowners insurance
NFIP: POLICIES IN UNITED STATES
NFIP: FLOOD INSURANCE REFORMS
• NFIP is $24 Billion in debt
• Congress passed law reforming the NFIP to resolve debt
• Rates are increasing for ALL POLICYHOLDERS
• Some policyholders have been paying way less than they should based on flood risk• These policyholders will experience the greatest
rate increases
NFIP: FLOOD INSURANCE REFORMS
Average Rate Increase = 20%
Maximum Rate Increase = 37%
RECOMMENDATIONS & TIPS
• Encourage SFHA policyholders to get an elevation certificate• Elevation certificates ensure accurate premium ratings -
contact a surveyor
• Structural renovations to reduce flood risk and lower NFIP premium
• Example: Elevating a structure, installing flood vents
• Encourage localities to participate in the NFIP’s Community Rating System to reduce flood insurance premiums
• Advise property-buyers to purchase NFIP policies early in transaction process• Be aware of 30-day waiting period and force-placement
RESOURCES
• Floodsmart.gov
• FEMA Resources
• Coastal Virginia Flood Maps
• Wetlands Watch Policyholder Guide
QUESTIONS?
Mary-Carson Stiff, [email protected] Hulst Jarbeau, [email protected]