Missouri Flood Filing Deadline Extended

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt announced the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will extend the flood insurance filing deadlines from 60 days to 120 days because many Missourians are still displaced from their homes by last month’s floods. The flood insurance program is only available in the 604 participating communities with an identified flooding hazard.

Normally, flood insurance policyholders must file their claim with the NFIP within 60 days of the flooding event. In the initial flood insurance contact, the policyholder must give details about the flooding, provide detailed information on damaged personal property, building damages and repair estimates, as well as estimating their total losses, and producing required paperwork. Before an adjuster is sent to view the property, the policyholder must also separate damaged and undamaged property for the inspection.

After the 1993 floods, Congress required that lending institutions must require flood insurance if the property is in a 100-year floodplain and the homeowners are seeking a federally backed loan. In exchange for citizens being able to purchase a flood policy, the communities must enact and enforce strict building ordinances in the 100-year floodplain.