RHODE ISLAND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program
RHODE ISLAND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
• Provides flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners
• Community must participate in the program
• Written by insurance agencies through their carrier or direct with the NFIP (rates and coverage are the same for all agents)
• Created by Congress in 1968
• Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
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The NFIP: How It Works
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Rhode Island NFIP Facts• 39 communities and 1 Tribal Nation participate in the National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP).
• Approximately 14,000 structures in designated floodplains
• As of January 2016, there are 15,281 policies statewide Figures reflect policies in and out of the floodplain
– Bristol County: 2,308– Kent County : 1,985– Newport County: 2,775– Providence County: 2,685– Washington County: 5,528
• Average RI Premium is $1,350/annually
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FLOODPLAIN MAPPING
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Rhode Island Facts
• 400+ miles of coastline
• 21 of 39 municipalities are coastal
• Digital mapping data available statewide
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• Riverine• Flash• Coastal• Shallow
Types of Flooding
Photo: Bob McMillan, FEMA
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Definitions• Base Flood: Flood that has a 1% chance of being equaled
or exceeded in any given year.
• Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM): An official map where FEMA has delineated the special flood hazard areas.
• Freeboard: An additional level of protection added above the Base Flood Elevation.
• Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA): Areas subject to the Base Flood or greater in any given year. These areas include Zones A and V.
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Definitions• Pre-FIRM buildings are built prior to the
community’s initial FIRMs or flood maps, so they may have greater flood risk.
• Post-FIRM buildings were built after initial FIRM. They have reduced risk of flooding and damage if they are compliant with the state and local floodplain regulations.
http://www.fema.gov/cis/RI.html
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Definitions of FEMA Flood Zones
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Flood Zone Wave Heights
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Coastal Mapping Elements
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Riverine Mapping Elements
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Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs)
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Mapping ToolsFEMA Map Service CenterFloodsmart
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Rhode Island Alternative
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• Designed to provide users with an easily accessible online reference tool by which to make informed decisions about the flood risk for a specific area or property.
• The floodplains shown on this Tool are delineated on the FEMA historic, preliminary, or effective FIRMs.
• www.riema.ri.gov
RI Floodplain Mapping Tool
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REGULATIONS
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Floodplain Management 44 CFR 60.3 Requirements
• A permit is required for all development in the SFHA shown on the FIRM.
• “Development” is any man-made change to real estate including:
• structures • mining• dredging • filling• grading • paving• excavating • drilling• storage
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Duties of the Floodplain Administrator
• Understand the regulations
• Ensure permits are obtained• Coordinate with other offices, departments,
and programs
• Conduct inspections
• Correct violations and enforcement actions
• Update the ordinance and record keeping
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Ordinance AdministrationOrdinance must be:
• Legally enforceable• Applied uniformly throughout community• Take precedence over less restrictive
requirements
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Record Keeping
There is no statute of limitations!Permit File (NFIP Requirement)Elevation Certificates official record for new and substantially improved buildings
– Documents compliance with regulations and supports insurance rating
– CRS communities must use FEMA Elevation Certificate (Form 81-31)
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Elevation Certificates (ECs)
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Elevation Certificates• The NFIP requires communities to obtain lowest
floor elevation information for newly constructed and substantially improved buildings in the SFHA.
• Provides elevation information to ensure compliance
• Determines proper insurance premiums
• Supports map change requests
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Elevation Certificates
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Elevation Certificates
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Elevation Certificates
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Diagram 2A - Basement
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Diagrams 5 & 6 – Piers, Posts or Piles
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Diagrams 7 & 8 – Walkouts and Crawlspace
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Elevation CertificatesThe FEMA Elevation Certificate & Guidance
http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-2/elevation-certificate
RI Department of Business Regulation, Licensed Design Professionals
http://www.bdp.state.ri.us/surveyors/
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Request must be based upon existing real world conditions at the time of the
request.
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Types of Map Change• Amendments – maps changed to reflect
errors primarily due to limitations in map scale
• Revisions – maps changed to reflect physical changes to flood conditions
BFE
LOMR-F
BFE
LOMA
Natural Grade
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What Does a LOMA Do?• Officially amends the FIRM• Removes the mandatory* flood insurance
purchase requirement• May remove a property from the local
regulatory requirements• No review fee
* Even with a LOMA, lender may still require purchase of flood insurance
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Steps To Get a LOMA• Hire a Professional Land Surveyor• Survey structure and complete EC
• If Lowest Adjacent Grade (C2(f)) is higher than BFE (B9) on EC then file for a LOMA
• LOMAs are free of charge for single structures
• Can be completed electronically through eLOMA
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FLOOD INSURANCE
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Flood Insurance Basics• Standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover
flooding.
• Flood Insurance is required if you live in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or high-risk area AND have a federally backed mortgage or other commitment (reverse mortgage, line of credit/equity, etc.)
• A lender can require flood insurance, even if a structure is NOT in the SFHA.
• Flood insurance can be purchased through a local insurance agent.
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Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
Design Flood Elevation (DFE)
Freeboard
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Coverage Limits
Structure Type Building Coverage Contents Coverage
Residential $250,000 $100,000
Commercial $500,000 $500,000
Flood insurance coverage can help protect property and belongings. The NFIP determines coverage and premiums.
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LimitationsInsurance coverage limitations:• In areas below the lowest elevated floor
depending on the flood zone and date of construction
• In basements regardless of zone or date of construction
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LimitationsBasement is any area of a building (including
sunken room or portion of) with a floor sub-grade (below ground level) on all sides.
NO coverage for:
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Rating Buildings• “Insurable” Building: is walled and roofed
“principally above ground” with at least 51% of actual cash value (including equipment and machinery) above ground
• Manufactured Home: designed for use with or without a permanent foundation when attached to required utilities
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Rating Buildings“Submit-to-Rate” detailed underwriting analysis is required for certain buildings with peculiarities in exposure toflooding:
• Lowest floor 2 feet or more below BFE• Below grade crawlspace• Enclosure below BFE
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Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014
• HFIAA was signed into law on March 21, 2014• Repeals and modifies certain BW-12 provisions:
• Reinstated grandfathering• Refunded excessive policy premiums• Instituted policy surcharge $25 primary
residence/$250 all others per year• Capped yearly premium increases • Provided relief for primary residence owners • Remove sales rate trigger
• Create Affordability Study for Congress• Designation of Flood Insurance Advocate to assist NFIP
policyholders
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Program Changes Effective April 1, 2016
• Revised Premium Rates– Limits annual premium and average rate class
increases Increase of 25% on premiums for non-primary, SRL, SI/SD, commercial policy holders
• Increases to the Reserve Fund• For the most comprehensive policy
information, have your clients contact the insurance agent
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Questions?
Twitter: @RhodeIslandEMA
Facebook: facebook.com/rhodeislandema
Web: riema.ri.gov