Latest Flood Headlines

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

Katrina, Sandy Offer Similar Lessons for Builders

Mar 28 2013 // Lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy about how best to limit damage to buildings closely track those of Katrina, a federal engineer said. Elevating generators and pumps is a good idea but enclosing elevated foundations...

Flood Insurance Policyholders Told to Expect Big Premium Hikes

Mar 28 2013 // The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said people who buy federal flood insurance need to plan for big rate hikes. FEMA director Craig Fugate said some people now paying hundreds of dollars a year could wind...

Insurance Covered Half of U.S. Disaster Costs in 2012: Swiss Re

Mar 27 2013 // Natural catastrophes and man-made disasters caused $186 billion in economic losses globally in 2012 and took approximately 14,000 lives, according to global insurer Swiss Re’s latest sigma study. The United States...

Swiss Re Study for 2012 Losses: $77 Bn Insured; $186 Bn Economic

Mar 27 2013 // Swiss Re has released its latest sigma study, which found that economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters reached $186 billion in 2012. Insured losses amounted to $77 billion, making 2012 the third...

N.J. Gov.: FEMA May Scale Back Hazardous Designations in New Flood Maps

Mar 25 2013 // Since shortly after Superstorm Sandy pummeled the Jersey shore last October, homeowners up and down the coast have agonized over whether to raise their homes to survive future storms.N.J. Gov. Christie speaking at a town...

Ohio Marks 1913 Flood Centennial, Warns of Dangers

Mar 25 2013 // State officials are using the 100th anniversary of a devastating and deadly flood to encourage Ohioans to prepare for potential high water emergencies by reviewing their response plans and insurance coverage. On the heels...

American Integrity, Wright Flood to Offer Residential Flood Insurance

Mar 25 2013 // Florida residential property insurer American Integrity Insurance Group has partnered with Wright Flood, a flood insurance provider to offer residential flood insurance. Effective April 1, 2013, American Integrity...

Building Updates: Aging Plumbing Systems

Mar 25 2013 // The Agent’s Role as Advisor and Risk Manager Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part series to explain insurers’ requirements for building updates and to help agents advise clients on mitigating...

Legislators Propose Spreading Out NFIP Rate Hike

Mar 25 2013 // A group of U.S. representatives from New York proposed a bill that would stretch out the National Flood Insurance Program’s premium increase timeline. On March 11, U.S. Reps. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), Gregory Meeks...

Report: Fargo Should Expect 1 of its Worst Floods

Mar 22 2013 // Residents along the Red River in Fargo, N.D., and neighboring Moorhead, Minn., should prepare for one of the top five floods in their history, the National Weather Service said. Its latest flood outlook included a 50...

Penn. Regulators Urge Consumers to Consider Buying Flood Insurance

Mar 22 2013 // The Pennsylvania Insurance Department is encouraging homeowners to consider buying flood insurance to help protect against potential spring floods. Winter ice and snow increases the chance of spring flooding, Pennsylvania...

Mixed Bag of Drought, Flooding and Warm Weather Predicted for Spring

Mar 21 2013 // In its three-month U.S. Spring Outlook, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states that odds favor above-average temperatures across much of the continental United States, including drought-stricken areas...

N.J. Gov. Christie Seeks $250M to Buy Out Homes in Flood-Prone Areas

Mar 21 2013 // New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said on Tuesday, March 19, that he is asking the federal government to let the state use $250 million in Sandy aid to help New Jersey buy out homeowners in flood-prone areas, but he does not...

FEMA Giving Minot, North Dakota $2.1M for Floodwall Project

Mar 21 2013 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it is giving the city of Minot about $2.1 million for the first phase of a project to protect the city’s water treatment plant with a floodwall. FEMA says the $2.7 million...

Expert: Repeat of 1913 Indiana Flood Would Be Disaster

Mar 20 2013 // What would happen if the rare and extreme series of storms that hammered Indiana 100 years ago this month occurred today? There would be significant damage, according to the Midwest Regional Climate Center. But with modern...

FEMA Buying Out 90 Flood Damaged Vermont Homes, So Far

Mar 18 2013 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to buy out a total of 90 properties across Vermont that were damaged by Tropical Storm Irene and other 2011 flooding. Eight structures were deemed ineligible for the...

New Maps Put 33K More New Jersey Homes in Flood Zones

Mar 18 2013 // New Jersey’s adoption of expanded flood maps in the wake of Superstorm Sandy has put more than 33,000 additional residential buildings in flood zones, a nearly 15 percent increase.Destroyed homes and washed away...

Mainers Urged to Consider Flood Insurance

Mar 18 2013 // State officials are urging Mainers to consider buying flood insurance if their home or business is located close to a body of water. The Maine Floodplain Management Program says standard home- and business-owners’...

NYC Council Tightens Safety Rules for Post-Sandy Home Elevation Work

Mar 15 2013 // The New York City Council has approved new safety rules and procedures this week concerning the city residents’ home elevation projects following Superstorm Sandy. The city council said these rules were prompted in...

FEMA: $2.7B Paid Out in New Jersey Flood Insurance Claims Post-Sandy

Mar 15 2013 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it has made $2.7 billion in flood insurance payments to New Jersey claimants since Superstorm Sandy hit the state last October. The agency also announced Tuesday that it has...