Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Indiana County Rejoins National Flood Program

The recent flooding in Indiana has prompted Daviess County to rejoin the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), disaster-management officials announced.

The NFIP requires that communities participating in the program adopt and enforce an ordinance that meets or exceeds the minimum NFIP floodplain management criteria. Communities that do not adopt adequate floodplain management regulations are suspended from the NFIP. This is what happened to Daviess County. NFIP communities that have been suspended from the program are considered to be "sanctioned."

When a community participates in the NFIP:

  • New flood insurance policies can be written and existing policies can be renewed.

  • Federal agencies can provide funds for permanent structural repair, reconstruction, or renovation of buildings within the "special flood hazard area" designated on that community's Flood Insurance Rate Map.

  • The U. S. Small Business Administration can disburse disaster loans to repair flooded houses and replace damaged personal property in that community.

  • FEMA's Temporary Housing Program can provide funds for the repair of an existing dwelling or purchase of a temporary living unit in the special flood hazard area of that community.

  • FEMA's Individuals and Household Program can offer grants for the repair of damaged structures located in the special flood hazard area of that community.

  • FEMA's Public Assistance Program, which provides funds to communities to help repair damaged infrastructure, will not reduce the maximum amount of funding the community will receive for structures located in special flood hazard areas.

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