Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-Lafayette) today voted to include wind damage to the National Flood Insurance Program, NFIP.

“The wind damage caused by Hurricane Rita was devastating to Southwest Louisiana,” Boustany said.  “We still have a long way to go to develop a comprehensive federal disaster response system, but today’s vote to include windstorm damage in the NFIP is one important step.”

In addition to expanding coverage, The Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007, H.R. 3121, changes the deadline for filing a claim from 60 days to 180 days and requires flood maps to be updated and maintained based on a 500-year floodplain. Priority is given to the coastal areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It authorizes $400 million for each fiscal year from 2008 to 2013 for these updates.

The National Flood Insurance Program was established in 1968 to reduce the risk of catastrophic flood damage through floodplain management, improve risk assessment through flood mapping, and promote flood insurance coverage and construction standards to guard against future damages. It is administered by FEMA.  NFIP currently provides coverage to more than 5 million people.