In the Northeast residents without flood insurance may be in for a rude awakening

A major hurricane has not made landfall on U.S. soil since 2008, but Hurricane Irene has broken that period of peace. As the first real hurricane of a supposedly active season, Irene seems to be making up for lost time. The storm has already reached Category 3 and is expected to reach the Carolina’s by Thursday. The hurricane will continue moving north, making its way through Long Island, New York and other states. The coming storm has raised concerns regarding insurance coverage as many come to the dire realization that…

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New FEMA flood maps may lower insurance rates, homeowners will have to wait a year to find out

Property insurance rates may be going down for Florida’s Marco Island as FEMA prepares new flood maps. The agency is making changes to their flood maps citing risks from pending storms and other factors. While this may be good news for residents of Marco Island, they will have to wait until next year before they see the lowered rates. FEMA has delayed the release of the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map saying that a later release date would be in the best interest of the community. The delay will allow…

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Hurricane season quickly moves in while many still pick up the pieces from the last storm

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a tumultuous hurricane season this year. The forecast, released Thursday, predicts that as many as six major hurricanes could form over the Atlantic Ocean this season. This is unsettling news for many states in the south currently struggling with national disasters of their own. Insurance companies are bracing for yet more damages. Last year’s hurricane season was relatively tame. Winds kept most tropical storms at sea and prohibited them from forming into hurricanes. “However, we can’t count on luck to get us…

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What to expect from newly designed flood insurance program

The House Financial Services Committee unanimously approved to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for another five years. Financial reforms will also be established in an attempt to get the debt burdened program back on solid financial ground. The NFIP was created by Congress in 1968. It was intended to provide an insurance alternative to disaster assistance, to help meet skyrocketing costs of repair and replacement of homes and contents damaged by floods. As of last year, more than 5.5 million homes were insured by the NFIP. The National…

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Several rally to keep government flood program intact

Record flooding has put Mississippi in a state of disarray. The extent of flood damage is proof enough of the importance of insurance coverage, says the state’s Insurance Commissioner, Mike Chaney. Spurred by the flooding, Chaney is petitioning Congress to renew the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for another 5 years. Chaney argues that Mississippi residents relying on the program for coverage should not have to worry about their only means of protection disappearing. Several other Insurance Commissioners from across the country have joined in support of the continuance of…

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