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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
1145 AM EDT THU MAR 18 2010
..THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK
THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED MARCH 15 THROUGH MARCH 19
FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
PITTSBURGH WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH DAY
DURING THE AWARENESS WEEK.
TODAYS TOPIC: DETERMINING FLOOD RISK AND FLOOD INSURANCE.
WHAT IS FLOOD INSURANCE?
IN 1968...CONGRESS CREATED THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM...
NFIP...IN RESPONSE TO THE RISING COST OF TAXPAYER FUNDED DISASTER
RELIEF FOR FLOOD VICTIMS...AND THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF DAMAGE
CAUSED BY FLOODS.
WHY DO I NEED FLOOD INSURANCE?
FLOOD LOSSES ARE NOT COVERED BY YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE POLICY.
LOCAL FLOODING CAN HAPPEN IN ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AT ALMOST ANY
TIME OF THE YEAR. FLOODING CAUSES MORE DAMAGE IN THE UNITED STATES
THAN ANY OTHER WEATHER RELATED EVENT...AN AVERAGE OF 5 BILLION
DOLLARS A YEAR IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.
HOW DO I OBTAIN A FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY?
YOU CAN PURCHASE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE FROM PRIVATE INSURANCE
COMPANIES AND AGENTS. THERE ARE OVER 100 INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT
SELL NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE...IN ADDITION TO SOME 60,000
INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS.
IF THE SELLER OF A PROPERTY HAS FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE...THAT
POLICY CAN BE ASSIGNED TO THE BUYER AT THE TIME OF CLOSING. IF THE
MORTGAGE COMPANY REQUIRES FLOOD INSURANCE AS A CONDITION OF A
LOAN...THE LENDER MAY ESCROW FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUMS...MAKING IT
EASY TO ENSURE THAT YOU WILL NOT GET CAUGHT WITHOUT FLOOD INSURANCE
WHEN A FLOOD THREATENS YOUR HOME.
WHO CAN PURCHASE FLOOD INSURANCE?
ANYONE WHO LIVES IN A COMMUNITY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE NATIONAL
FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM CAN PURCHASE COVERAGE FOR A BUILDING AND ITS
CONTENTS. THERE ARE A FEW EXCEPTIONS. COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES
SYSTEM AREAS...OTHERWISE PROTECTED AREAS...AND BUILDINGS PRINCIPALLY
BELOW GROUND OR ENTIRELY OVER WATER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR NATIONAL
FLOOD INSURANCE.
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