This publication is designed to provide accurate, current, and authoritative information on the subject. However, since the laws, regulations, administrative rulings, and court decisions on which it is based are subject to constant revision, portions of this publication could become outdated at any time. This publication is distributed with the understanding that the authors are not engaged in rendering legal advice or opinions, and the information contained herein should not be regarded, or relied upon, as a substitute for legal advice or opinion. For these reasons, the utilization of these materials by any person constitutes an agreement to hold harmless the authors, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and the University of Florida for any liability claims, damages, or expenses that may be incurred by any person as a result of reference to or reliance on the information contained in this fact sheet.
Introduction
The Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), makes flood insurance available in areas where the appropriate public body has adopted adequate floodplain management regulations for its flood-prone areas. Community participation is voluntary, although some states require NFIP participation as part of their floodplain management program. Communities who wish to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) must fulfill two phases:
- NFIP Emergency Program
- NFIP Regular Program
Phase 1. NFIP Emergency Program
Community participation in the NFIP is promoted in two ways: the community develops interest in flood insurance, or FEMA notifies the community that it contains one or more Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA). Communities include in their applications resolutions or ordinances the community has adopted to regulate new construction in the SFHA. The resolutions or ordinances do not need to be burdensome, but rather add only minimal new regulation. [Note: A flood-prone community that does not apply for participation in the NFIP within one year of notification is ineligible for federal or federally-related financial assistance for acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of insurable buildings in the SFHA.]
- After assessing the community's degree of flood risk and development potential, FEMA authorizes the sale of flood insurance in the community up to the Emergency Program limits (Table 1).
- If appropriate, FEMA arranges for a study of the community to determine base flood elevations and flood risk zones. Consultation with the community occurs throughout the study. Communities with minimal or no flood risk are converted to the Regular Program without a study.
- FEMA provides the studied community with a Flood Insurance Rate Map delineating base flood elevations and flood risk zones. The community has six months to meet the requirements, such as the adoption of base flood elevations in local zoning and building code ordinances.
- Once the community adopts more stringent ordinances, FEMA converts the community to NFIP's Regular Program (Phase 2).
Phase 2. NFIP Regular Program
- FEMA authorizes the sale of additional flood insurance in the community up to Regular Program limits (Table 2).
- The community implements adopted floodplain management measures.
- FEMA arranges for periodic community assistance visits with local officials to provide technical assistance regarding compliance with NFIP floodplain management requirements.
- Local officials may request flood map updates as needed. FEMA evaluates requests, encourages cost-sharing, and issues revised maps as priorities dictate.
Sources for This Publication
National Flood Insurance Program: How the NFIP Works. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Access online at http://dem.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/demnvgov/content/Resources/How%20the%20NFIP%20Works%20022010.pdf
Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Congressional Research Service, Access online at https://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R44593.pdf
