Maine insurance regulators urging consumers to purchase flood insurance before the stormy season begins

The Maine Floodplain Management Program, a state-run initiative that works in tandem with the National Flood Insurance Program, is urging state residents to purchase flood insurance before the stormy season gains momentum. According to state regulators, floods in Maine are often the result of coastal storms that happen near the beginning of spring and during the hurricane season later in the year. Regulators note that while flood insurance is often very affordable, few consumers have policies because they do not think that such disasters will happen to them. March and…

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U.S. Senators team to petition for action on troubled National Flood Insurance Program

The problems facing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) remain unresolved and its latest expiration date – May 31 – is quickly approaching. Forty-one Senators have come together to petition for action to be taken on the ailing federal program that provides affordable insurance coverage to thousands of homeowners. The Senators are backing a legislation that would extend the program’s lifetime for another 5 years and begin the arduous reformation process. They assert that action must be taken swiftly in order to prevent lapses in coverage during seasons of heavy…

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SmarterSafer.org Praises Senators’ Efforts to Bring Long-Term NFIP Reauthorization to Senate Floor

SmarterSafer.org today praised a letter from David Vitter (R-LA) and Jon Tester (D-MO) to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging the Senate to pass long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The letter, signed by a bipartisan coalition of 41 Senators, asks the Leaders to bring the legislation to the Senate floor as expeditiously as possible. “The Senate should take this opportunity to capitalize on the bipartisan efforts by both the Senate Banking Committee and the House of Representatives thus…

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Army Corps of Engineers warns that last year’s floods could spur yet more damage along the Mississippi River this year

Last year’s record breaking floods along the Mississippi River could put a significant amount of people in danger of similar events this year, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The events of last year have dealt a significant amount of damage to protective structures that block floods, such as levees and overflow channels. The communities that were affected by these events last year will be notified of the Army Corps of Engineers concerns in February. The Corps has identified several places where floods could be a major problem this…

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FEMA tours North Dakota to promote flood insurance awareness

Flood insurance continues to be a major issue for consumers and insurers alike. The outlook for the National Flood Insurance Program is bleak as federal legislators continue, without success, to fix the debt-riddled program. In an effort to raise awareness of the issue, FEMA, along with officials from the federal government, has embarked on a tour through one of the states most at risk of flooding events: North Dakota. The tour began in North Dakota on January 23 and will come to an end on January 26. During the first…

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