National Flood Insurance Program Participation and Compliance

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National Flood Insurance ProgramParticipationan
dCompliance
Sue Baker, State Coordinator National Flood
Insurance Program State Planning Office
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How the NFIP Works

• Quid Pro Quo mutual agreement between the Feds
  and your community
• Community agrees regulate development in mapped
  floodplains
• In return, federally backed flood insurance is
  made available
• 3 basic parts Mapping Insurance - Regulations

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Mapping

• FEMA has developed and mapped flood hazard data
  for your community
• Flood maps are used as the basis for regulating
  flood prone development
• Insurance agents use them to rate policies
• Lenders/federal agencies use them to determine
  when insurance is mandatory as a loan condition
  or financial assistance

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Insurance

• Every building in a participating community is
  eligible for flood insurance even buildings
  outside the mapped floodplain
• Premiums are based on construction date
• Pre-FIRM vs. Post-FIRM structures
• What happens on the regulatory side determines
  what happens to flood insurance rates over the
  life of the structure

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Regulations

• NFIP underwrites flood insurance in communities
  that adopt and enforce compliant flood
  regulations
• Regulations insure buildings and other
  development will be protected from flood levels
  shown on the FIRM
• Over time exposure to hazard should be reduced as
  Pre-FIRM replaced w/ Post-FIRM and substantially
  improved structures

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Joining the NFIP

• Adopted a Resolution to
• Assist the Administrator in the delineation of
  the floodplain
• Provide information concerning uses and occupancy
  of the floodplain
• Maintain records of floodplain actions

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Joining the NFIP (cont)

• Cooperation with agencies/firms that seek to
  study, survey, map and identify SFHA
• Notify Administrator of boundary changes
• Adopted regulations that meet or exceed the
  minimum NFIP criteria

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The Community Role

• Issue or deny flood hazard development/building
  permits
• Inspecting development to assure compliance
• Maintain records of floodplain development
• Assist in preparation/revision of flood maps
• Educate residents hazard map data flood
  insurance and proper construction

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State Role

• Were from the Government,
• Were here to help you
• Each Governor selects a State Coordinating
  Agency State Planning Office
• Roles/activities vary from state to state
• Ensure communities have legal authority to adopt
  and enforce FP regulations
• Establish minimum state requirements

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State Role (cont)

• Provide technical assistance
• Collaborate with other agencies on issues that
  affect the NFIP

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Federal Role

• 10 Regional Offices Region I New England
• Assist us the state coordinating agency
• Assess community compliance
• Technical Assistance
• Help review new flood data and maps
• Approve community regulations
• Information and training in insurance purchase
  requirements

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Failure to Enforce

• New buildings/substantial improvements will still
  be flood prone
• Flood insurance may be expensive
• Run the risk of FEMA imposed sanctions

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Lions and Tigers and SanctionsOh My!

• Reclassification under CRS
• Probation Written notice of deficiencies
• 90 days to correct deficiencies or remedy
  violations
• 50 premium on policies sold or renewed
• No remediation can mean suspension

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Suspension

• No flood insurance available
• No new policies no renewals
• No federal grants or loans
• Acquisition or construction of buildings
• HUD EPA SBA
• No federal disaster assistance on insurable
  buildings

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Mitigation Grant Money

• Must have a compliant county mitigation plan
• Communities must be part of the plan
• Community must belong to the NFIP and be
  compliant
• 1991 ordinance or newer
• Ideally more recent adoption
• Ordinance changes often based on comments from
  local officials

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How can we help?

• Entry into the NFIP
• Compliance/updated regulations
• Interpretation of regulations
• Flood mapping and flood insurance Q
• FEMA mitigation publications
• Call/e-mail/walk-in if you think we can help

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Maine Floodplain Management Program

• State Planning Office
• Sue Baker, Coordinator 287-8063
• Brigitte Ndikum-Nyada, Planner 287-8932
• Diana True, P R Associate, 287-8052
• Joe Young, Mapping Coordinator 287-8051