FEMA Urges Congress to Stop Writing Flood Insurance for Highest-Risk Areas

The Senate Banking Committee will examine the federal government’s flood insurance program as officials seek congressional approval to do something unprecedented: drop coverage for frequently flooding properties and deny coverage for homes in the most flood-prone areas. The proposal is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s plan to overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program,… Continue reading FEMA Urges Congress to Stop Writing Flood Insurance for Highest-Risk Areas

FEMA to Launch Initiative to Modernize Building Codes in Cat-Resiliency Effort

Miami Florida cityscape skyline with concept of sea level rise and major flooding from warming or hurricane damage

On this first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, federal officials are launching a new initiative to modernize building codes so that communities can be more resilient to hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that are intensifying due to climate change. Deanne Criswell, the administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and… Continue reading FEMA to Launch Initiative to Modernize Building Codes in Cat-Resiliency Effort

NFIP Sees Reinsurance Partnerships as Mutually Beneficial

Flood insurance Congressional approval

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in the United States is eager to continue collaborating with the private sector to help close the country’s flood protection gap, and it has asked its reinsurance partners to encourage clients to investigate flood risk. “We want to continue to work with the private… Continue reading NFIP Sees Reinsurance Partnerships as Mutually Beneficial

FEMA Requests Comments on Improving Flood Insurance Program

TWIA credit line for storm damage

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking input on how to change flood insurance, a powerful program that both sets standards for resilience in building across the country and encourages repeated construction in vulnerable areas. FEMA’s open call for public comments will be open until Jan. 27, and participants will be able to write… Continue reading FEMA Requests Comments on Improving Flood Insurance Program

Flood Insurance Costs Rise in Areas Once Deemed Lower Risk

Flood insurance Congressional approval

In the last year, the southwestern Louisiana city of Lake Charles has been hit by two hurricanes, heavy rains that sent water gushing down streets, and a deep freeze that caused pipes to burst. However, because the cost of his flood insurance is rising, Tommy Eastman may eventually drop coverage on his four-bedroom home, which… Continue reading Flood Insurance Costs Rise in Areas Once Deemed Lower Risk

Flood Insurance Costs Set to Rise as FEMA’s New Rates Kick In

Flood insurance Congressional approval

The federal government Friday rolled out a flood-insurance program revamped to reflect worsening climate change, a program that will raise rates for millions of homeowners in wealthy coastal areas and humble inland communities alike. The Federal Emergency Management Agency in April announced the first significant update to the beleaguered National Flood Insurance Program, which covers… Continue reading Flood Insurance Costs Set to Rise as FEMA’s New Rates Kick In

New National Flood Insurance Policy Rating System Begins Today

TWIA credit line for storm damage

Chris Dailey and his wife are building a new home in coastal St. Petersburg, Fla., that will sit 7 feet above the flood level expected during a major storm. So he was stunned to learn that under the federal flood insurance program’s revamped pricing, his annual premium is slated to soar to $4,986 from $441.… Continue reading New National Flood Insurance Policy Rating System Begins Today

Data Shows FEMA’s New Flood Insurance Methodology Could Cause Rate Drop for 1.2M Policyholders

Flood insurance Congressional approval

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is releasing its new risk rating methodology that will create new pricing for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies beginning Oct. 1, 2021. The NFIP is managed by FEMA and used by homeowners, business owners and renters to purchase federally backed flood insurance in risk areas. FEMA explained that… Continue reading Data Shows FEMA’s New Flood Insurance Methodology Could Cause Rate Drop for 1.2M Policyholders

FEMA’s New Director Prepares Agency for a Hot, Chaotic Future

FEMA disaster aid distribution

Deanne Criswell, the first woman to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in April took over a 20,000-person operation exhausted by managing responses to disasters linked to global warming: wildfires and the 2020 hurricane season, the most active on record. As if that weren’t enough, President Joe Biden asked FEMA to create and staff sites… Continue reading FEMA’s New Director Prepares Agency for a Hot, Chaotic Future

FEMA Overhauls the NFIP, Accounts for Climate Change

Flood insurance Congressional approval

Climate change and its devastating impact are accelerating faster than ever, according to a new report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Hurricanes are becoming stronger, rainfall heavier and flood risk higher. Yet, America’s National Flood Insurance Program hasn’t changed at all since its inception. But it is about to. Under the… Continue reading FEMA Overhauls the NFIP, Accounts for Climate Change