Federal Disaster Assistance: The National Flood Insurance Program and Other Federal Disaster Assistance Programs Available to Individuals and Households After a Flood [May 1, 2018]

摘要

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the main program intended to provide federal assistance to homeowners and renters recovering from flood losses. The maximum coverage for one- to four-family homes is $100,000 for contents and $250,000 for buildings coverage. In addition to NFIP claims payments to policyholders, homeowners and renters may also access a number of other federal programs aimed at mitigating the impact on individuals and households. The principal FEMA program to offer assistance to individuals and families is the Individual and Households Program (IHP). The total of all IHP assistance to one household cannot exceed $34,000. IHP recipients whose homes are located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, are in a community participating in the NFIP, and who receive assistance for repair, replacement, permanent housing construction, and/or personal property as a result of a flood-related disaster must obtain and maintain flood insurance as a condition of accepting disaster assistance. [..] The NFIP's authorization expires on July 31, 2018. If the NFIP is not reauthorized and is allowed to lapse, the authority to provide new flood insurance contracts will expire. If the NFIP were to lapse, the unavailability of NFIP insurance could have an impact on other programs such as IHP, SBA [Small Business Administration] disaster loans, and CDBG-DR [Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program]. Separately from or in conjunction with NFIP reauthorization, the impacts on such other programs may be useful to consider. In particular, Congress may consider revising the requirements for flood insurance in the Flood Disaster Protection Act