National Flood Conference in Austin Will Focus on New Technologies, New Initiatives
Release Date: May 4, 2000
Release Number: HQ-00-066
Washington, DC -- Bankers, insurance executives, local and state officials, and officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will gather in Austin, Texas, May 7-10 for an introduction to 21st Century innovations to a highly successful federal program that pays for itself and even saves taxpayers money.
With the theme, "WildWiredWest@Y'all.com," the four-day National Flood Conference at the Austin Convention Center will emphasize technological advances in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is managed by the Federal Insurance Administration, a part of FEMA, in cooperation with the insurance and banking industries.
The conference will officially launch a major effort to make flood insurance a top national priority by using e-commerce initiatives and a new national advertising campaign.
Floods resulting from severe storms and other events are by far the most common type of natural disaster in this country-and the most costly. Last year, the NFIP paid flood victims $714 million in claims. Those claims, paid from policyholder premiums, reduced the need for federal disaster assistance, which is funded by tax dollars. Furthermore, the program's required floodplain management ordinances, adopted and enforced at the community level, result in an estimated $800 million annual reduction in flood damage nationwide.
The 2000 National Flood Conference includes dozens of technical/educational workshops and seminars of special interest to insurance agents, lenders and state and local officials. Examples are a workshop on the new "Cover America II" ad campaign and how to use websites to address current marketing issues; an "E-Commerce Toolbox" workshop where agents can trade their experiences using e-commerce to improve sales; and a session on FEMA's Map Modernization Program to update community flood hazard maps using computer-aided design, Geographic Information Systems and real-time, high-resolution, digital satellite imagery.
Speakers at the opening plenary session beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 8, include Federal Insurance Administrator Jo Ann Howard, who heads the NFIP and is a native Texan and Austin resident and a former member of the State Board of Insurance; and InsWeb Corporation Vice President for Product Development Scott Stevens, who will discuss the internet's potential for reaching new flood insurance customers.
The Tuesday general session will feature a panel discussion of how technology can shape the future of the NFIP and that its continued success depends largely on how its stakeholders utilize technology to the fullest.
Other prominent speakers include Austin Mayor Kirk Watson; Texas Insurance Commissioner Jose Montemayor; Wes Birdwell, river operations manager for WaterCo, who is responsible for flood operation, water supply and release operations, dam modernization projects and floodplain management for the entire 11-county Lower Colorado River Authority area; and Michael Armstrong, FEMA's associate director for Mitigation, who administers federal programs to help state and local governments reduce the risks of natural hazards before and after disasters; and Raymond "Buddy" Young, director of FEMA's Region VI headquarters in Denton, Texas.
Conference highlights will include a mock summary judgement hearing conducted by U.S. District Judge David C. Norton, who will listen to arguments involving several issues relating to NFIP claims. The format is designed to be as realistic as possible and will dramatize the issues that insurance companies routinely argue in federal courts. The presentation should provide valuable insight into the legal aspects of the flood insurance program.
For the first time, this year's national conference will incorporate an Audience Response System in all of the presentations. Audience members will use keypads to answer speakers' questions, participate in surveys and vote their preferences in a public awareness materials contest.
Another special feature is a six-foot-tall, 600-pound robot that will serve as master of ceremonies to open each session. Moving about on tank treads, the robot will introduce speakers, converse with participants, sing, dance and pose for photos, in addition to communicating flood insurance messages.
The U.S. Congress established the NFIP in 1968 to make flood insurance available to property-owners in communities that adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood losses by regulating new construction. Currently, more than 4.2 million policies are in force in over 19,000 participating communities nationwide, representing nearly $522 billion worth of coverage.
Last Modified: Monday, 03-Nov-2003 09:51:30