More Than Three-Fourths of New Hampshire Flood Policies in Six Disaster Counties
Release Date: August 7, 2006
Release Number: 1644-037
» More Information on Maine Severe Storms and Flooding
NEWINGTON, N.H. -- In May of this year there were 6,838 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies in force in the state of New Hampshire . Seventy-seven percent of those policies, (5,277) were insuring structures in the six disaster declared Individual Assistance counties of Belknap, Carroll, Hillsborough, Merrimack , Rockingham and Strafford.
One of the misconceptions involving flood insurance is that people living in homes outside the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA is an area having a one-percent chance of being flooded in any given year) don't need to purchase flood insurance. According to statistics, 25-percent of flood insurance claims paid are for structures outside the SFHA .
Some other myths and facts concerning flood insurance include:
MYTH: "My standard home owners' insurance will cover me if my house is damaged or destroyed in a flood."
FACT: Home owners' insurance does not cover flood damage. Federal flood insurance, purchased through your insurance agent or company, is the only guaranteed flood insurance coverage available for your home.
MYTH: "Federal disaster aid, available during and after a flood, will reimburse me for losses. Therefore, I don't need to buy flood insurance for my home and belongings."
FACT: Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster aid is only available during Presidentially declared disasters in which Individual Assistance has been approved. Federal aid may often be in the form of a loan that you must pay back with interest. Flood insurance policies pay claims whether or not a disaster is declared.
MYTH: "I can't buy flood insurance because my home has been flooded previously."
FACT: If your community is participating in the NFIP, it doesn't matter that your home has been flooded before. You may still buy flood insurance.
MYTH: "If people don't want to purchase flood insurance, it's their own business. It doesn't really affect me."
FACT: When people do not buy flood insurance, you pay more for federal and state disaster relief. Flood insurance is one of the best ways to keep disaster relief costs down for all taxpayers.
MYTH: "Flood insurance is only available for homeowners."
FACT: Flood insurance is available to protect homes, condominiums and non-residential buildings including farm and commercial structures in participating communities. Contents coverage also is available, so coverage is available to renters as well.
MYTH: "If they predict a flood in the near future, it's too late for me to purchase insurance."
FACT: You can purchase flood insurance anytime in a participating community. However, there is a 30-day waiting period after you have applied and paid the premium before the policy is in effect.
MYTH: "I can only buy federal flood insurance through the federal government."
FACT: You can buy NFIP backed flood insurance through most major private insurance companies and licensed property insurance agents who sell home owners' or property insurance.
MYTH: "The NFIP does not offer any type of basement coverage."
FACT: Yes it does. The NFIP defines a basement as any area of a building with a floor that is below grade on all sides. Basement coverage under an NFIP policy includes clean up expenses and items used to service homes and buildings. These can include elevators, water heaters, air conditioners, freezers, utility connections, circuit breaker boxes, pumps, and tanks used in solar energy systems. Flood insurance will not cover improvements such as finished walls, floors and ceilings.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 06-Dec-2006 11:42:23