National Flood Insurance Program NFIP

 

1. NFIP coverage is available to all owners of insurable property (a building and/or its contents) in a community participating in the NFIP. Owners and renters may insure their personal property against flood loss. Builders of buildings in the course of construction, condominium associations, and owners of residential condominium units in participating communities all may purchase flood insurance.

2. After a community joins the NFIP, a policy may be purchased from any licensed property insurance agent or broker who is in good standing in the state in which the agent is licensed or through any agent representing a Write Your Own (WY0) company, including an employee of the company authorized to issue the coverage.

3. How are flood insurance premiums calculated?
 

a. The amount of coverage purchased.

b. The location; age of the building; building occupancy; design of the building; and, for buildings in Special Flood Hazard Areas(SFHA's), elevation of the building in relation to the base flood elevation

c. Buildings eligible for special low cost coverage at a predetermined, reduced premium rate are single-family and 14 family dwellings located in zones B, C, and X. For these exceptions, certain loss limitations exist depending on the amount of insurance purchased.
 

4. Almost every type of walled and roofed building that is principally above ground and not entirely over water may be insured if it is in a participating community. In most cases this includes manufactured (i.e. mobile) homes anchored to permanent foundations, but does not include travel trailers or converted buses or vans. Contents of insurable walled and roofed buildings also may be insured under separate coverage.

5. If a policyholder has a flood loss, The policyholder should immediately report the loss to the insurance company or agent who wrote the policy. A claims adjuster will be assigned the loss, and The policyholder must file a "proof of loss" within 60 days of the date of loss. The "proof of loss" form is the policyholders valuation of claimed damages, and is a sworn statement made by the policyholder that substantiates the insurance claim. This form is required to be submitted to the NFIP or WYO company within 60 days of the loss.

6. Information concerning the NFIP may be obtained by contacting the following phone numbers toll-free. This service is available 8:00 AM through 8:00 PM, EST, Monday through Friday.

General Public (800) 427-4661 Agents (800) 720-1093 Lenders (800) 611-6125 TDD (800) 427-5593