National Flood Insurance Program NFIP

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Insurance coverage for losses resulting from floods is for the most part not provided in a homeowners or renters policy. In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in response to the rising cost of taxpayer funded disaster relief for flood victims and the increasing amount of damage caused by floods.

National Flood Insurance program allows homeowners and renters to purchase insurance which will protect their residences and contents against direct physical loss by flood, loss resulting from flood-related erosion and damage caused by mudslide. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), administered by FEMA, makes federally backed flood insurance available in communities that adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood losses.

The maximum coverage amounts for a single-family home are $250,000 for the structure and $100,000 for its contents. Renters may also purchase up to $100,000 of coverage for their personal belongings.

For information about flood insurance, property owners or renters should contact their insurance agent or call the NFIP's toll-free information line at 1-800-427-4661.