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
National Flood Insurance Homepage
FEMA WebPage
Information for Homeowners and Renters
Answers to Questions about the NFIP
For Information:
Murray Wanner