National Flood Insurance Program
About the National Flood Insurance Program
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which works closely with nearly 90 private insurance companies to offer flood insurance to property owners and renters. In order to qualify for flood insurance, a community must join the NFIP and agree to enforce sound floodplain management standards.
The City of St. Paul Park is a partner of the NFIP.
Everyone is at Risk
Flooding happens every day in all regions of the country. Consumers must prepare for flooding no matter where they live. The Northeast can be affected by remnants of tropical disturbances in the summer, but are also threatened by winter flooding, nor'easters, and the threat of rapid spring melts. The Midwest experiences major river flooding-illustrated by the catastrophic flood of 1993 and 2008. The west coast's intense flooding season typically spans November through March and results in millions of dollars in damage for residents each year.
Although many floods are caused by huge storms like hurricanes or nor-easters, more floods occur every day and can result from small, localized events, such as a typical afternoon thunderstorm. No matter where you live, it is important to remember that just a few inches of water in a home can cause thousands of dollars of damage.
The NFIP defines a "flood" as:
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."
Flood Insurance Misconceptions
Many people are under the misconception that they are ineligible for flood insurance because of where they live, or their mortgage status. But the truth is, as long as your hometown is an NFIP community, most homeowners, business owners and renters can get flood insurance. The NFIP urgers consumers to remember flood insurance basics:
- You CAN get flood insurance nationwide.
- You CAN get flood insurance if you live in a floodplain or high-flood risk area.
- You CAN get flood insurance if you live outside a floodplain, or a low-to-moderate flood-risk area, - and at lower cost.
- You CAN get flood insurance if you property has been flooded before.
- You CAN get flood insurance from insurance agents in your area.
- You CAN buy flood insurance even if your mortgage broker doesn't require it.
