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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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…
Read MoreConsumer advocates encourage president Obama to speak out on NFIP during State of the Union address
President Obama will be delivering the annual State of the Union address this week on the 24th of January. In the past, the president has used this occasion to highlight some of the major issues that have put the nation on edge. He has also outlined plans legislators have come up with to fix a number of these problems. This year, consumer advocates from SmarterSafer.org are urging the president to make a statement regarding the state of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Thousands of people get their flood insurance…
Read MoreCongress extends the life of NFIP, but no clear solution is yet in sight
Federal legislators rules late last week to extend the lifetime of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until May 31, 2012. The program had been scheduled to expire at midnight on December 23, which would have caused millions to lose their flood insurance. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America has praised the extension granted to NFIP, though the program still suffers under the weight of massive debt that threatens its ultimate longevity. For now, the program is safe, but legislators still need to tackle the financial issues that…
Read MoreCongress approves short-term National Flood Insurance Program fix
In Washington D.C., Congress has given the nod to an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), to maintain it until November 18, 2011, after having failed to pass a reforming bill for the program. It is hoped that this extension will provide enough time for a reported deal to close, which is supported by both parties. What this means to homeowners in any of the 20,000 communities that take part in the NFIP, is that if you will be purchasing a home or if you are attempting to…
Read MoreCongressional panel votes to reform National Flood Insurance Program
As the East Coast continues to struggle with rampant floods caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, there may be hope on the horizon for many without flood insurance. The Senate Banking Committee has voted to overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) instead of letting the program cease at the end of the month. The panel’s vote supports an overarching legislation that would ensure that the federal insurance program would continue to run for another five years, a bill that had already been passed but was whose execution…
Read MoreHow will the National Flood Insurance Program avoid a watery grave?
As of September 30, 2011, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is due to expire for the tenth time in a period of 24 months. The NFIP is designed to provide homeowners and business owners with affordable flood insurance, and it does so within 21,000 communities across the country for over 5.6 million homes and businesses. Cleveland Area Board of Realtors co-director, Barbara Lachowicz, explained that the program is vital to a housing market that is capable of functioning properly. She went on to say that “Americans deserve access to…
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