Latest Flood Headlines

All the headlines from our Flood Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Senate Takes First Step on Flood Insurance, Agent Licensing Bill

Jan 27 2014 // The Senate voted 86-13 early Monday evening to proceed with debate on a bill to both delay some flood insurance premium increases and establish an optional national registry for insurance agent and broker licensing. That...

Data Shows Hoboken’s Share of Sandy Aid on Par With Other N.J. Towns

Jan 27 2014 // The city whose Democratic mayor said New Jersey’s GOP Gov. Chris Christie’s administration tied Superstorm Sandy aid to her support for a real estate project has, so far, received a level of aid from state-run...

Key Flood and Crop Insurance Votes Could Come This Week

Jan 27 2014 // This week could see important Senate votes on a bill on the federal flood insurance program that is linked with an agent and broker licensing measure, as well House approval of a farm bill that includes crop insurance and...

House Dampens Prospects for Broad Flood Insurance Delay

Jan 27 2014 // The Senate (72-26) recently joined the House of Representatives (359-67) in passing a $1.1 trillion compromise omnibus spending bill that contains a delay for an estimated one quarter of those facing flood insurance...

Understanding the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012

Jan 27 2014 // Flood insurance has been a staple of development since 1968 when it was created by the federal government. There are more than 20,200 communities, and as of June 30, 2011, the program had nearly 5.6 million policies in...

Global Natural Disasters Cost Insurers $45B in 2013

Jan 27 2014 // In 2013, there were 296 separate natural disaster events that produced total economic losses of $192 billion – four percent below the 10-year average of $200 billion, but above the average 259 events, according to a...

Survey: Execs Expect Flood Insurance Delay, TRIA Renewal, Industry Consolidation

Jan 27 2014 // A survey conducted at the Insurance Information Institute’s Property/Casualty Insurance Joint Industry Forum in New York this month asked industry leaders for their outlook on 12 topics – ranging from the Terrorism...

Biden, Cuomo Team Up to Promote Smarter Rebuilding

Jan 27 2014 // Vice President Joe Biden and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this month New York and the nation’s other coastal states have to rebuild against severe storms and flooding that are likely in the future. “Extreme...

Homeowners Choice Sells First Flood Policy in Florida

Jan 24 2014 // Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Inc., a Florida based provider of admitted homeowners insurance and wholly-owned insurance subsidiary of HCI Group, Inc., is now selling flood insurance to existing...

How to Encourage Private Flood Insurance; Why Delaying Biggert-Waters Is Not the Answer

Jan 24 2014 // New technologies and a better understanding of flood risk may have increased private insurers’ interest in providing flood insurance but real obstacles remain to the private sector getting involved. The obstacles...

Some Western N.Y. Homeowners Grapple With Flood Damage After Canceling Insurance

Jan 21 2014 // Some western New York residents whose homes were damaged by a snow-swollen river this month had only recently cancelled their federal flood insurance policies because of rate increases. About 70 houses in West Seneca, just...

Senate Links Agent Licensing Reform with Flood Insurance Delay

Jan 21 2014 // There is a new political wrinkle in the attempt to stave off flood insurance rate hikes across the country. The Senate has attached an industry-supported bill to streamline agent and broker licensing to its bill to delay...

Mass. Sen. Warren Launches Statewide Tour, Discusses Flood Insurance

Jan 21 2014 // U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is scheduled to participate in events across Massachusetts next week to discuss her agenda for the year and the importance of making investments that help build a strong middle...

Remapping, Subsidy Loss Raising North Dakota Flood Insurance Costs

Jan 17 2014 // Had Greg Larson, a realtor and riverside homeowner in Bismarck, N.D., and his family changed their flood insurance policy, their cost would have gone from $705 a year to $4,200. Increases in flood insurance rates are...

Philippine Floods Kill 34 People

Jan 17 2014 // At least 34 people were killed in flooding and landslides in the southern Philippines in the past week, as the national weather service issued the lowest storm alert for several provinces on the southern island of...

Senate Joins House in Approving Spending Bill with Narrow Flood Insurance Fix

Jan 17 2014 // The Senate (72-26) yesterday joined the House of Representatives (359-67) in passing a $1.1 trillion compromise omnibus spending bill that contains a delay for an estimated one quarter of those facing flood insurance...

A.M. Best Reviewing Wright National Flood Insurance Co.

Jan 16 2014 // Ratings agency, A.M. Best, has placed under review with developing implications the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Wright National Flood Insurance Co. (WNFIC) of...

Federal Flood Aid to Colorado Reaches $246M

Jan 16 2014 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency says nearly $246 million in federal aid has flowed into Colorado since the deadly September floods. FEMA said the aid includes $96 million in loans, $59.3 million in flood insurance...

P/C Insurance Executives Expect Flood Insurance Delay, TRIA Renewal, Industry Consolidation

Jan 16 2014 // A survey conducted at the Insurance Information Institute’s Property/Casualty Insurance Joint Industry Forum in New York Tuesday asked industry leaders for their outlook on 12 topics — ranging from the...

Senate Re-Election Politics Boosts Flood Insurance Delay Proposals

Jan 16 2014 // Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will do just about anything to help Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu. He arranged the chamber’s floor agenda this week so Landrieu could lead debate on a flood insurance rate reprieve...