Considering Coverage

Doesn't my homeowners insurance policy cover flooding?
No. Flood damage is not covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Even a policy labeled as “all risk” does not cover damages from flooding.

If my home is flooded, won't federal disaster assistance pay for my damages?
No. Federal disaster assistance offers loans to help cover flood damage, not compensation for your losses. Even then, those loans are only available if the President formally declares a disaster … and less than 10 percent of all weather emergencies in the United States are declared.

Am I eligible for flood insurance?
You must live in a community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to qualify for National Flood Insurance. All communities in the State of Rhode Island participate in the NFIP. As a result, every resident of Rhode Island can purchase flood insurance, even if they live in a low-risk zone.

Can I get flood insurance if I'm renting a property?
If you live in a community that participates in the NFIP, you can get flood insurance to cover the contents of your home or business. All communities in the State of Rhode Island participate in the NFIP. Therefore, as a resident of Rhode Island you can purchase flood insurance, even if you’re renting.

I live in a low-risk flood zone. Do I really need flood insurance?
It's a good idea to buy flood insurance even if you live in a low- or moderate-risk area. Almost 25 percent of all flood insurance claims come from areas with minimal flood risk. You may qualify for the Preferred Risk Policy (a lower-cost flood insurance policy) that provides contents coverage for as little as $39 per year and building plus contents coverage for just over $121 a year.

Why do I need flood insurance, even though my community has never been flooded?
The fact that a flood hasn't occurred within recorded history doesn't mean one hasn't happened in the past or that one won't happen soon.

Structures located in high-risk flood areas have a significant chance (26 percent) of suffering flood damage during the term of a 30-year mortgage while only a 9 percent chance of loss from fires. A home mapped in a high-risk area is three times more likely to suffer damage from a flood than a fire in the lifetime of a typical mortgage!

For these reasons, flood insurance is required as a condition of receiving Federal or federally-backed financial assistance.

Why does my mortgage lender require me to buy flood insurance?
The purchase of flood insurance is mandatory for all Federal or federally-backed financial assistance for the acquisition and/or construction of buildings in high-risk flood areas (Special Flood Hazard Areas or SFHAs).

Flood insurance must be maintained during the term of the loan and is required for the lesser of the maximum amount of available NFIP coverage or the outstanding principal balance of the loan (less the land value).

If the property is not in a high-risk area, but instead in a low- to moderate-risk area, the law does not require flood insurance; however, a lending company has the right to require it.  After all, historically about one-in-four flood claims come from these low- to moderate-risk areas. Note that if during the life of the loan the maps are revised and the property is now in the high-risk area, your lender will notify you that you must purchase flood insurance. If you do not purchase flood insurance, the lender will force place it, which could be at a much higher rate.

Is there a low-cost policy for homes in low-to moderate-risk areas?
Yes. The Preferred Risk Policy is available in low- to moderate-risk areas for as little as $121 per year.

I'm not in a high-risk area, but I'd like complete flood coverage. Is this possible?
Yes! You are eligible to purchase a flood policy with the same coverage you would receive if you lived in a high-risk area. That is of course, as long as your community participates in the NFIP. And, you may qualify for the Preferred Risk Policy (a low-cost flood insurance policy) that provides contents coverage for as little as $39 per year and building and contents coverage for as little as $121 per year.

After my home was damaged in a flood, I received federal disaster assistance. Do I need to purchase flood insurance now?
Yes. If you live in a high-risk area and have received disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA) after a flood, you are required to purchase and maintain flood insurance coverage until the loan on your property is paid off.

If you don't get flood insurance and another flood damages your property, you will be denied federal disaster assistance. If you sell the property, you are required to notify the buyer of the need to purchase and maintain flood insurance.

Who do I contact if I want to purchase a flood insurance policy?
The National Flood Insurance Program has an arrangement with private insurance companies to sell and service flood insurance policies. A list of private insurance companies that sell and service NFIP flood insurance policies is available to you.

You may also contact your insurance agent or company to find out more about Federal flood insurance or find an agent serving your area.

What if I want to purchase more insurance than the NFIP offers?
Many private insurance companies offer Excess Flood Protection, which provides higher limits of coverage than the NFIP, in the event of catastrophic loss by flooding. For more information, contact your insurance agent or company or find an agent serving your area on FloodSmart.gov.

Risk Profile

Why would I need flood insurance if I live on a hill?
Floods can occur in any area, although to varying degrees. If you live on a hill or in an area that has never been flooded, your risk may be significantly reduced, but it is not eliminated.

Flooding can be caused by heavy rains, melting snow, inadequate drainage systems, failed protective devices such as levees and dams, as well as by tropical storms and hurricanes. Please make an informed decision about the flood risks you face before deciding not to purchase flood insurance. Talk to your agent for additional details – you may qualify for a Preferred Risk Policy (a lower-cost flood insurance policy).

Why does the tool say I'm in a high-risk area when the ground my home is built on is very high?
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) cannot reflect every variation in the physical geography of an area. Therefore, a FIRM occasionally will show a property as being in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), even though the building may be above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE).

However, there is a mechanism for resolving such a situation. A property owner can submit property and elevation materials in support of a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) to remove the property from the SFHA. This process involves the property owner and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

For detailed information regarding the LOMA process, call toll-free 1.877.336.2627.

My community has never been flooded. Why do I show up in a low to moderate risk area?
Everyone lives in a flood zone. The fact that a flood hasn't occurred within recorded history does not mean one hasn't happened in the past or that one will not happen in the future.

It's important to note that flood history is only one element used in determining flood risk. More critical determinations are made by evaluating your community's rainfall and river flow data, topography, wind velocity, tidal surge, flood control measures, building development (existing and planned), and community maps.

Why is my address not showing up in your database?
Our data comes from maps that are available in a digital format. Most communities are mapped; however yours may not be digitally available at this time. FEMA is currently facilitating a national effort to update and digitize all maps. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about flood hazard mapping, visit: http://www.fema.gov/fhm/mm_main.shtm.

Do insurance companies or agents use this tool to determine premium rates?
No. This tool was created to help you understand your relative risk level, which is only one element used to determine your premium rates.

Along with flood zone information, agents will review location, the age and design of the building or house, occupancy, and the amount of coverage requested. Additionally, for buildings located in Special Flood Hazard Areas, agents must consider the elevation of the building in relation to the base flood elevation.

Where can I find more information about the maps that were used to determine my relative risk level?
FEMA publishes maps indicating a community's flood hazard areas and the degree of risk in those areas. Flood insurance maps usually are on file in a local repository in the community, such as the planning and zoning or engineering offices in the town hall or the county building.

In addition, you can order maps online or by writing, phoning, or faxing a request to the FEMA Map Service Center. There is a minimal charge for maps for most users.

Risk Levels

How is flood risk determined?
FEMA conducts a Flood Insurance Study (FIS) of a region to identify the community's risk levels. The FIS includes statistical data for river flow, storm tides, rainfall, topographic surveys, as well as hydrologic and hydraulic analyses. After examining the FIS data, FEMA creates a map delineating the different areas of flood risk.

How can I find out my property's flood risk level?
Enter your property's location in the FloodSmart.gov risk assessment tool.

My home is in a floodplain. Am I at high risk for flooding?
Yes. Buildings in floodplains, or Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), are at high risk for flood damage. Some floodplains experience frequent flooding, while others are affected only when there is a severe storm.

As a homeowner in a floodplain, it's not so much a question of if a flood will damage your property as when. That's why the law requires you to have flood insurance. Did you know that an SFHA home has a 26% chance of being flooded over a 30-year period, as compared to a 9% chance of suffering a fire? That means that you're three times more likely to be damaged by a flood than a fire!

I live in a floodplain, but the ground my home is built on is very high. Aren't I safe from flooding?
Not necessarily. Even if your home is on high ground, it can still be damaged in an extreme flood event.

What is a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) and how does it affect my flood risk level?
A LOMR is an official amendment to the currently-effective FEMA map. Issued by FEMA, the LOMR changes flood zones, delineations, and elevations. The FEMA map revision may mean that your property is no longer shown in a special flood hazard area (SFHA). However, if you receive a LOMR, your risk of flooding has not been eliminated, only reduced.

The good news is that you would likely be eligible to pay much less for your flood insurance coverage. Contact your insurance agent for additional information.

What is a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)?
A LOMA is an amendment to the currently effective FEMA map which establishes that a property is not located in a Special Flood Hazard Area. You can submit property and elevation materials supporting a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) to remove your property from the SFHA. This process involves the property owner and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

For detailed information regarding the LOMA process, call toll-free 1.877.336.2627.A LOMA is issued only by FEMA.

As I read about reducing flood risk, I keep hearing the term "flood mitigation." What does this mean?
Flood mitigation refers to the measures a community takes to correct and prevent flood risks. These efforts generally include zoning, subdivision, rules for building in floodplains, and special-purpose floodplain ordinances. A homeowner can minimize flood damage by preparing his or her home and contents for a flood. For ideas, see Before the Flood.

Do flood mitigation efforts affect the cost of insurance premiums?
Yes, they can. Communities may voluntarily participate in the Community Rating System (CRS), where the mitigation efforts that go above and beyond the basic requirements of the NFIP are evaluated and given a number. The higher a community's CRS rating, the lower the risk of flooding and the lower the premium rates for individuals in the community.

What is the role of a community in its flood hazard assessment?
Each community that chooses to participate in the NFIP works closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Together, they collect the information needed to create an accurate Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) of the region. The FIRM and FIS will later be used to determine flood insurance rates for homeowners.