Flood Protection Information
The City of Duluth participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and has received a Class 8 rating for voluntary flood protection practices from ISO. This rating allows Duluth residents to receive a 10% discount on new or renewed flood insurance policies. Duluth’s NFIP Community number is 130098.
FEMA’s current Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Duluth are dated September 29, 2006 and June 18, 2010. Several of the maps are currently being revised and will take effect between October 2012 and March 2013 (most likely in March). All maps, including the preliminary 2012 revisions, are available for public viewing in Duluth’s Planning & Development Dept., which is located at 3167 Main St. Elevation certificates may also be available in our office for public inspection.
If it is determined that your home is in a flood hazard area, your mortgage lender may require you to carry mandatory flood insurance, such as NFIP. If you have reason to believe your home has been incorrectly identified as a flood hazard, you may appeal to FEMA directly for an official determination. Click here for information on the procedures for receiving an official determination from FEMA.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) web site: http//www.fema.gov
Additional FEMA resources can be found here.
“No Need” for Flood Insurance???
You don’t have to live next to a river, lake, or ocean to be at risk of flooding. The NFIP regularly pays claims for flooding caused by such events as unusually rapid springtime snowmelt, backup of storm sewers during heavy rainfall, or failure of a distant levee or dam.
In areas at high risk of flooding, there is a 26% chance of being flooded during the life of a typical 30-year residential mortgage.
Flood insurance is required by federal law in some instances. To get federally secured financing to buy, refinance, build, repair, reconstruct, or improve buildings in areas at high risk of flooding, the homeowner may be required to purchase flood insurance.
Between 20% and 25% of all NFIP claims occur in areas at medium or low risk of flooding.
The owner of a residence in a one- to four-family residential building located in a Regular Program community and an area at medium or low risk of flooding can buy a Preferred Risk Policy (PRP) with basic building and contents coverage for an annual premium at little as $111. Ask your insurance agent or company whether your residence is eligible for the PRP.
A typical residential building in an area at high risk of flooding is six times more likely to be damaged by flood than by fire.
Federal disaster assistance might pay for some flood damage – but there’s a costly catch. Disaster assistance, when authorized, usually takes the form of loans, which must be repaid with interest. The annual interest on an average federal disaster loan is greater than the annual premium (about $395) for an average NFIP policy.
Information taken from “The Watermark”, 2004, Number 1, National Flood Insurance Program.
Telephone numbers and Region IV Information for Georgia residents
Direct Business Number 1-800-638-6620
Agent Information 1-800-720-1093
General Information 1-800-427-4661
Lender Information 1-800-611-6125
TDD 1-800-427-5593
Region IV FEMA 770-220-5200
NFIP Bureau & Statistical Data 770-396-9117
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