FEMA offers flood insurance program, communities must partcipate to qualify
Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected to state the National Flood Insurance Program will not pay for one year of flood insurance. A spokesperson first told KVEO FEMA would pay for the first year of flood insurance.
MERCEDES, Texas (KVEO)- Following the heavy July rains, Mercedes residents experienced flooding leading them to look for flood insurance options.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a flood insurance program.
“The National Flood Insurance Program can help,” said FEMA Spokesperson Earl Armstrong.
Mercedes resident Laura Alvarado told KVEO that she didn’t know about the program and wishes she had before because it would have saved her thousands of dollars last year in flood damage alone.
“In order to be eligible for a flood insurance policy, your community has to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program,” said Armstrong.
The program was created in 1968, said Armstrong.
Those that live in a high-risk flood area and have received federal disaster assistance – including grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – must maintain flood insurance in order to be considered for any future federal disaster aid.
Sometimes, but not always, after a disaster, group flood insurance policies are provided for three years, after which time the homeowner is responsible for maintaining the flood insurance.
The website states there is typically a 30-day waiting period for an NFIP policy to go into effect, but there are some exceptions.
For more information on this program, visit FEMA’s website.
To see requirements, click here.
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