Spring thaw: Are you ready for flood season?

By Ed Connor, acting federal insurance and mitigation administrator, NFIP

Once again, we find ourselves at the threshold of spring--a time when the weather begins to warm across the country and areas of heavy snowfall must begin to prepare for the heightened flood risk. Snowmelt, severe storms and heavy rains are common in the region during the warming months.

Flooding captured the nation's attention just two short years ago when flood waters devastated parts of the Midwest during the 2008 spring season. Thousands of people across the Midwest faced the terrible consequences of heavy rains and massive flooding. Some suffered a devastating blow: the total loss of their home to floodwaters. Others dealt with the difficult and costly work of replacing walls, floors, utilities, and damaged possessions, to make their homes livable again.

Read a "Getting Personal article, "What's your flood zone?"

Soon after those floods, it was reported that fewer than 10 percent of Midwest residents living in high-risk areas of flooded communities had flood insurance and less than 1 percent of those living in lower-risk areas had flood insurance. Yet despite the risk, most residents are still not protecting their homes with flood insurance. In each of the states affected by the 2008 Midwest floods, less than 2 percent of total households are covered by a flood insurance policy. This alarming statistic proves that Midwest agents must educate residents on the importance of flood insurance, especially on the cusp of flood season.

To help with the process, the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP's) marketing campaign, FloodSmart, offers a secure Web site, www.Agents.FloodSmart.gov. NFIP developed FloodSmart in 2004 to educate and inform partners, stakeholders, property owners and renters about the importance of financially protecting their homes and businesses from flood damage with flood insurance coverage.

Read an article about the reauthorization of NFIP, "NFIP stall hits agents hard, consumers harder."

Resources for agents include:

o Selling a policy: From policy forms for agents writing through the NFIP servicing agent NFIP Direct, to the complete flood insurance manual, you will find everything you need to write flood insurance policies.

o Advertising co-op program: The program provides advertising tools and templates to expand your flood portfolio, and offers up to 75 percent reimbursement for advertising costs.

o Advertising mail-on-demand program: Using pre-built forms, you can select and modify direct mail templates to address various situations and needs, such as seasonal flood risks, map changes in your community, policy renewal reminders and cross-sell existing homeowner clients.

o Agent referral program: By signing up for this program, agents can connect with qualified leads. Through FloodSmart's TV commercials, print ads, direct mail campaigns, Web site banner ads and media outreach, prospective customers are directed to FloodSmart.gov or the FloodSmart call center to learn more. When they are ready to find an agent, we'll put them in touch with registered agents in their area. Since the program's inception, more than 200,000 referrals have been given out via the listing on FloodSmart.gov and the call center.

o Mapping status report: With FEMA's nationwide updating of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), the mapping status report provides a snapshot of what communities are being updated and where they are in the mapping lifecycle. This will help better prepare you to explain the options available (e.g., grandfathering, conversion, etc.) and their timing.

As an insurance agent, you are the key to protecting the financial assets of your clients from damage caused by the No. 1 natural hazard: floods.

Read an article on supplementing NFIP coverage, "Excess flood insurance: Why NFIP isn't enough."

Ed Connor is the acting federal insurance and mitigation administrator for NFIP. For more information, call 800-427-4661, or visit Agents.FloodSmart.gov.