What
Can I Do To Be Prepared?
| Before the Flood | During
the Flood | After the Flood |
Before the Flood:
Prepare for high water if you live in a flood-prone area.
How
to build a Sandbag Levee or Cap an Existing Levee
How
to Construct a Sandbag Filling Station
Flooding
| Developing a National Plan | Does
my Homeowners Policy cover Flood Loss? |
| Other Important NFIP Features | What
can I do to be prepared? |
Today, the threat of flooding is more serious than
ever. Demands for progress have led to the leveling of forests
and the overbuilding of lands that prevent soil from doing its
natural job of absorbing water. All too suddenly, this potential
for flooding can turn into a very real disaster.
Developing a National Plan
In 1968 Congress addressed this long-standing problem by passing
the National Flood Insurance Act. This legislation provides flood
insurance at reasonable cost in exchange for the careful management
of flood-prone areas by local communities. Today, the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) serves 17,000 communities across
the country with nearly two million policyholders. The program
is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
through its Federal Insurance Administration. Billings and Yellowstone
County have been participating in the program since 1975.
Does My Homeowners
Policy Cover Flood Loss?
No. Losses due to flooding are not covered under a homeowner's
insurance policy. You can, however, obtain flood protection through
the NFIP.
Other Important
NFIP Features
Good insurance is available on most commercial and residential
buildings, including mobile homes on foundations, and condominiums.
Contents can be included or covered separately (this enables renters,
as well as business and homeowners, to insure personal property).
There is a thirty day waiting period from the date of application
until you are covered.
Flood insurance is required by law as a condition for securing
loans and grants from a federal agency in order to buy or build
structures in the flood hazard areas of a participating community.