Tag: flood insurance coverage

Flood insurance applications soar on Sandy’s heels

Julie Campbell
flood insurance policies

Following the superstorm, many homeowners have been inquiring about coverage against flooding. As the claims following Superstorm Sandy continue to be managed, insurers are finding that they are being contacted by consumers for an entirely different reason, which is to learn more about flood insurance and to add the protection to their homes. The reality of the risk involved in a potential storm such as Sandy has now become more than clear. Agents and brokers alike are reporting that flood insurance is one of the top reasons that they are…

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National Flood Insurance Program may not withstand assault from Hurricane Sandy

S.Vagus
Flood Insurance

National Flood Insurance Program braces for massive impact from claims Hurricane Sandy has brought many issues to light in the U.S., especially those concerning climate change and the country’s energy grid. Amidst the turmoil the storm has caused, federal officials have begun evaluating ways to improve the country’s defenses against natural disasters. At its peak, Hurricane Sandy was a Category 2 storm, but dwindles to a Category 1 and tropical storm status by the time it reached the northeastern states. Despite the storm’s weakening presence, it still managed to produce…

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Flood insurance has new risks ahead

H. Cutner
Flood Insurance

This federal program is already on shaky legs, but is facing even greater strains. The National Flood Insurance Program has never recovered from falling into $18 billion of debt after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and now it is headed back toward a position where its funds are running slim as the massive reconstruction effort after Sandy begin. Estimates at this point are saying that the superstorm could lead to the second highest bill for the program. Federal flood insurance claims will likely be second only to Katrina, as 115,000 have…

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The National Flood Insurance Program will live to see another day

Disability Insurance

Congress votes to keep the NFIP, which provides 5.6 million people with coverage On Friday, Congress gave its approval to extend the National Flood Insurance Program by another 5 years, ensuring that 5.6 million people will be able to maintain their current coverage. The decision was made to help to keep the fragile housing market from additional harm. If Congress had chosen not to renew the program, the result could have been devastating to the housing market, as prospective homeowners in areas considered at risk of flooding would not be…

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Homeowners are reminded that springtime means flood insurance

Julie Campbell

With the official start of spring, while many homeowners are seeing that the dry conditions over the winter have reduced the risk of flooding, the Insurance Information Institute is reminding them that throughout the springtime, the flooding risk still remains high due to hurricanes, heavy rains, and other types of catastrophes. Homeowners, home renters, and business owners should all consider purchasing a policy that will protect them from flood, or renewing one that they have already had, to ensure that there isn’t a gap in their coverage. In the United…

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Newly mapped FEMA flood plain requires some Michigan residents to purchase coverage

Certain residents of Michigan have recently received letters from their mortgage companies, informing them that they will be required to purchase flood insurance, or that coverage will be bought on their behalf. This is the result of a newly mapped flood plain by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and affects the residents of the Frank and Poet Drain, who are currently in an uproar over the sudden cost. Since February 2012, when the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) went into effect, there has been a much larger area…

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Reinsurance companies face tremendous losses

H. Cutner

Last year, the reinsurance sector was battered down by huge losses resulting from natural disasters. The disasters that lead to the enormous insured losses included the earthquakes in New Zealand, the flooding in Thailand and Australia, and the tsunami following the earthquake in Japan. These were all top events discussed in the most recent survey results from the Reinsurance Association of America. Catastrophe losses considered, the combined ratios for most reinsurers within the group were reported to have fallen. According to the executive director covering property and casualty insurance at…

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