National Flood Insurance Program News

More Than 250,000 U.S. Properties Reported to Have Repeated NFIP Claims

More than a quarter million U.S. properties have repeated claims for federal flood insurance, costing the National Flood Insurance Program billions of dollars in claims, according to new federal data compiled by the National Resources Defense Council. Four states account …

In the Dark: Telling The Truth About Flooding Requires Accurate Maps and Strong Disclosure Laws

Hundreds of thousands of Americans already live in homes that have repeatedly flooded. To get a good handle on the extent of those losses, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s web page that hosts an extensive dataset with information …

FEMA Approves $61M For Iowans Affected by Spring Flooding and Severe Storms

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved more than $61 million for Iowa residents who experienced damage from this spring’s flooding, severe storms and tornadoes. FEMA said has provided $56 million in Individual Assistance money to help survivors with home repairs, …

NFIP Pays $364M on Idalia Claims. Florida Bill Requires Flood Disclosure to Buyers

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid out $364 million on flood claims from Hurricane Idalia, the storm that swamped part of Florida in August. That’s a fraction of the $3.2 billion NFIP paid after Hurricane Ian, a much larger …

Newer, Elevated Structures Had Much Smaller Flood Claims in Ian, FEMA Says

Hurricane Ian caused extensive damage in southwest Florida, with more than 37,000 National Flood Insurance Program claims, making it the fourth-most expensive flood disaster in U.S. history, says a new report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. As other studies …

Federal Reinsurance Backstop for Catastrophes: APCIA Says No Thanks

Federal lawmakers introduced a bill to create a federal natural catastrophe backstop recently, reacting to insurers’ issues with growing private reinsurance costs. But a trade group for carriers suggested that a federal remedy could create more problems. “Federal solutions to …

Hurricane Idalia Exposes Florida’s Dangerous Flood Insurance Gap

Hurricane Idalia unleashed its fury on northwest Florida on Wednesday morning, landing in a sparsely populated area with winds of 125 miles (201 kilometers) per hour and 9 feet of storm surge. Although the urban conglomeration of Tampa-St. Petersburg was …

Viewpoint: FEMA’s Commonly Misinterpreted ‘50% Rule’

Did you know that a residential structure is three times as likely to experience a flood than a fire over the 30-year life of a mortgage? In fact, flooding is the most common type of natural disaster in the United …

Researchers Say Misleading FEMA Flood Maps Understate Risk

Researchers at North Carolina State University have added their voices to the growing number of people who say that federal flood maps are inadequate and misleading, causing thousands of homeowners to avoid needed flood insurance. “In fact, only about 4% …

NFIP: 43,000 Flood Claims and $273 Million Paid So Far After Hurricane Ian

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reminding flood insurance policyholders hit by Hurricane Ian that they have an extra three months to renew their expiring policies. The agency said last week that Florida property owners with National Flood Insurance Program …