BATON ROUGE, La. — The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has now paid Louisiana policyholders more than $2 billion following the August flood.
Flood insurance payments have helped policyholders repair or rebuild disaster-damaged homes and businesses and replace contents. Some policyholders have also received additional payments to enhance their structure’s ability to withstand future storms and floods.
NFIP policies—which average about $700 a year—provide flood coverage that is unavailable in federal disaster assistance and most insurance policies. Depending on the policy, homeowners may receive up to $250,000 for structural damage and $100,000 for contents. Businesses owners may receive up to $500,000 for structural damage and contents.
Policyholders may be eligible for additional payments of up to $30,000 to mitigate a substantially damaged structure so it meets local floodplain-management regulations.
Policies go into effect 30 days after purchase. Payments are not dependent on state or federal disaster declarations. Floods are the most common and costliest natural disaster, but usually do not result in a declaration.
Floods can happen anywhere and anytime, especially in Louisiana where a major flood occurs about every six years. Moderate- and low-risk areas contained more than half of the August flood-damaged structures.
Louisiana residents may go to www.floodsmart.gov to learn more about any property’s flood risk, estimate an NFIP premium or locate an insurance agent who sells flood insurance. Visit www.ready.gov/floods for flood information and safety tips.
