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Flood Insurance Update 11/2013
The document provides information about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) including its history, definitions of flooding, policy details, and requirements. It summarizes that the NFIP was established in 1968 and is administered by FEMA. It defines flooding as the inundation of two or more acres of dry land from overflowing waters, rapid accumulation, mudflows, or shoreline collapse. Flood insurance provides coverage for direct physical loss from flooding. Elevation certificates are required to determine flood risk and insurance rates. The document emphasizes that all property owners in flood zones should consider flood insurance.
Flood Insurance Update 11/2013
- 1. National Flood InsuranceProgram What you and Your Clients Need to Know about Rising Risks, Rising Rates and their Effects on Closing Costs…. Sandy Emerson, NFS StoneRiver Regional Field Relations Manager
- 2. HISTORY OF THENFIP Established when Congress passed the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 The Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 amended the 1968 Act Administered by the Federal Insurance Mitigation Administration, a component of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 1983: The Write-Your-Own Program established
- 3. Who Needs FloodInsurance? All Owners of Insurable Property
- 4. Definition of aFlood Flood insurance covers direct physical loss caused by “flood.” In simple terms, a flood is an excess of water on land that is normally dry. Here’s the official definition used by the National Flood Insurance Program: A flood is “A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is your property) from: Overflow of inland or tidal waters; Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from ANY source; Mudflow*; or Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined above.” *Mudflow is defined as “A river of liquid and flowing mud on the surfaces of normally dry land areas, as when earth is carried by a current of water…” taken from the NFIP Summary of Coverage document
- 5. Single Peril Policy DIRECTPHYSICAL LOSS BY OR FROM FLOOD
- 6. Pre-FIRM and Post-FIRM Pre-FIRM: Buildings built or substantially improved prior to December 31, 1974 OR prior to the date the community entered the regular program Insured has the option of using Pre-FIRM or Post-FIRM rates, whichever provides the best rates Post-FIRM: Building was built or substantially improved after the community entered the regular program Zone must be determined from the FIRM; Rates for coverage are based on the zone
- 7. Elevation Certificates Whenare Elevation Certificates required? Where do I get an Elevation Certificate? Why are Elevation Certificates Required?
- 8. Click to editMaster title style 25-30% of Flood Insurance Claims originate in LOW to MODERATE RISK areas
- 9. Facts to Knowand Remember Flood Policies duration (1 year) Policy Expiration and Renewal Process 30 day grace period without a lapse in coverage Reinstatement if paid between 31st and 90th days Federal Policy Fee: Mandated by Congress $40 on all standard flood insurance policies $20 on the PRP Full Premium must be submitted/uploaded with the application or the endorsement
- 10. Effective Dates -New Policies 30-Day Waiting Period from the date of application and presentment of premium for Voluntary Purchase
- 11. Exceptions to 30-DayWaiting Period Loan Closing Lender Portfolio Review Map Revision
- 12. Cancellations A floodpolicy may be cancelled at any time BUT A refund of premium money will only be made when a valid reason for cancellation is listed
- 14. Offer Flood Coverage Everyone is in a flood zone A Zones and V Zones – SFHA’s • 1% chance of flooding in any given year B, C, X, D and A99 Zones – Non SFHA’s • .2% chance of flooding in any given year Run a zone determination on every risk Offer flood insurance Document rejection with an Agency Responsibility Waiver form
- 15. Resources NFS, Stoneriver POBox 2057 Kalispell, MT 59903-2057 800.637.3846 Write Your Own Company FEMA Websites www.agents.floodsmart.gov • Co-Op Program • Referral Program www.nfipiservice.com www.fema.gov/business/nfip http://bsa.nfipstat.com
- 16. What is BW12…. The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 is a law passed by Congress and signed by the President July 6, 2012 Many of the changes are designed to make the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) more financially stable Another purpose of these modifications is to ensure flood insurance rates more accurately reflect the real risk of flooding
- 17. Who Needs FloodInsurance? All Owners of Insurable Property
- 18. What Your ClientsNeed to Know… Flood Risks are Changing • Risk may have increased since the last flood maps were created. Flood Insurance Rates Will Reflect those Changes • With new flood insurance rate maps (FIRM), rates on properties will rise. Insured's Can No Longer Rely on Subsidized Rates • Most subsidized rates for older properties will be eliminated. These are structures that were built before the flood maps were created for the Community. Building or Rebuilding higher lowers your risk and could save you money • Consider the impact of flood insurance premiums when making construction decisions.
- 19. Homeowner’s Guide toElevation Certificates
- 20.
Editor's Notes
- #3 Basically, the government was trying to come up with a flood policy that would be available on a nationwide basis. In 1983, the Write Your Own program was established which meant that insurance companies could contract with the Federal Government agreeing to certain regulations and in doing so they would be able to write on their own paper. The same, rules, rates and regulations apply to each Write Your Own company.
- #4 So who needs flood insurance? As you see here just about everyone; as long as they are eligible. So, make sure to offer it to owners of insurable properties and condo associations. Many times we still hear insureds say they are not in a flood zone so they don’t need flood insurance. It is vital that we let them know everyone is in a flood zone! It may be that they are in a low risk zone, but the bottom line is they still need flood insurance.
- #5 Flood is basically an excess of water on land that is normally dry. NFIP does follow a definition that is a little more detailed so let’s take time to break it down and understand it better. The first part says it is a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of 2 or more acres of normally dry land area, so if your insured owns 5 acres of land then we need at least 2 of those acres to be inundated with water that is normally not there. The definition continues with 2 or more properties at least one of which is yours. Now, the water can come from various sources. It can come from an overflow of inland or tidal waters; unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source….let’s make sure we understand that one…it is telling us that the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters can come from other sources outside of rain or snow melting, so keep that in mind. The flooding can also be caused by mudflow or even collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined above.
- #6 When we talk about what flood covers we are talking about what was directly impacted by the flood waters. What was the direct physical loss by or from the flood to the insureds building and/or contents. We are not talking about additional living expenses, loss of use or loss of income. Those are not covered under the NFIP flood policy.
- #7 Pre-Firm is defined as buildings built or substantially improved prior to December 31, 1974 OR prior to the date the community entered the regular program. If an insured has a pre-firm building then they have the option of using Pre-FIRM or Post-FIRM rates, whichever provides the best rates. This means they will either use an elevation certificate or not. Keep in mind, they don’t have to have an elevation certificate if they are pre-firm, but if they do have one and it gives them a more beneficial rate then we would want to use it. If the building is post-firm then the building was built or substantially improved after the community entered the regular program. Zones must be determined from the FIRM. Rates for coverage are based on the zone. If the insured property is located in an A or V numbered, AE or VE zone, elevation certificates are required when they are post-firm.
- #9 25-30% of our flood losses come from those low risk areas and most of these property owners are the ones that think they don’t need flood insurance. So, let’s find out a little more about the PRP.
- #10 The NFIP policy is for a 1 year term. A policy will renew without a lapse if the renewal premium payment is received within 30 days of the expiration date. If it is 31-90 days then it will have a 30 day lapse in coverage. After 90 days the agent must write a new policy. Fees: The Federal Policy fee is typically $40 and is not commissionable (the fee is higher on RCBAP policies). The flood policy is a “Cash with app” policy. No partial payments accepted. Insureds can pay via check or credit card.
- #11 There is a 30 day waiting period that applies to the flood policy when coverage is voluntarily purchased.
- #12 Some exceptions would be a loan closing, lender portfolio review or a map revision. For a loan closing the policy will become effective the date of the loan closing. If there is a lender portfolio review and it is discovered that the property is in a SFHA then the policy will become effective the date of the application and presentment of premium. If there is a map revision then the insured has a 13 month period to take advantage of a 1 day waiting period.
- #13 A flood policy may be cancelled at any time BUT A refund of premium money will only be made when a valid reason for cancellation is listed. There is a listing of these reasons in the NFIP manual so check out the manual.
- #15 To wrap us up, Everyone is in a flood zone, some properties are at a higher risk of flooding than others…,Run a zone determination on every risk, Offer the coverage, Document rejection with an Agency Responsibility Waiver form.