In its ongoing efforts at improving the flood insurance program,on June 15, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launcheda National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) call center pilot programto support policyholders with the servicing of their claims.

You can reach the NFIP call center at 1-800-621-3362 between 8a.m. to 6 p.m. (CDT) Monday through Friday. Specialists will beavailable to assist policyholders with the servicing of theirclaims, provide general information regarding their policies, andoffer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

For those who prefer to put their concerns in writing, a“Request for Support” form is posted at the NFIPwebsite, which can be filled out and emailed to [email protected]or faxed to 540-504-2360.

Call center staff will be able to answer such questions as

• How do I file a flood insurance claim?
• What type of documentation is needed?
• Can I still obtain disaster assistance even though I have aflood policy?

In addition, the staff will be able to help with morecomplicated insurance questions about the extent of coverage,policy ratings, and more. The call center also will be open todisaster survivors who have general questions about the NFIP.

“Flood insurance provides residents with the ability to protectthemselves financially against the most common disaster we see inAmerica,” said Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for theFederal Insurance and Mitigation Administration. “We’re providingthis new resource to ensure that the people we serve have anotherway get information they may need to understand how flood insuranceworks and how to navigate the claims process. This hotline alsoprovides us with a direct connection to policyholders themselvesshould they have concerns to report about how their claims arebeing handled and enabling us to take prompt action to ensure thatthey receive every dollar they are owed under their policies.”

In addition to contact FEMA and NFIP, don’t forget to contactyour agent or broker if you have a loss from a flood. All yourpolicies work together to help you recover from the damage, andit's important to coordinate all of them for maximum coverage.

[Related: 8 tips for cleaning up after a flood]