• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Weatherboy

Weatherboy Weather News, Maps, RADAR, Satellite, and Forecasts.

  • Local
  • Earth Science News
  • RADAR
  • Current Warnings
  • Satellite
  • Current Maps
  • Forecast Maps
  • Video

Shutdown: FEMA Flood Insurance Program

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - December 28, 2018

The NFIP program is the latest casualty from the government shut-down.  Image: FEMA
The NFIP program is the latest casualty from the government shut-down. Image: FEMA

While the partial shutdown of the federal government continues with no end in sight, there’s another casualty that could impact those living in or planning to live in areas where flood insurance is needed. This week, FEMA decided to stop the National Flood Insurance Program, also known as NFIP. The NFIP can now no longer sell or renew policies, while existing policies will remain in effect until their expiration date.


Those planning to purchase a new home where flood insurance is required won’t be able to close on their homes. As a result, mortgage companies may decline to fund closings, keeping new homeowners out of their new home.  The National Association of Realtors believe this amounts to about 40,000 purchases a month. Shannon McGahn, National Association of Realtors senior vice president of government affairs, said, “NAR and its 1.3 million members are extremely disappointed by this abrupt and ill-conceived change of course.” In previous government shutdowns, the NFIP program wasn’t impacted.

The National Association of Home Builders  (NAHB) also denounced the program termination. “FEMA’s short-sighted action threatens to wreak havoc in many real estate markets from coast-to-coast at a time when the nation is already struggling through a housing affordability crisis,” NAHB Chairman Randy Noel said. “We strongly urge FEMA to rethink this ill-advised action and abide by the will of Congress by moving to immediately allow new flood insurance policies to be written and renew existing policies for the duration of the government shutdown. A failure to act responsibly will have devastating consequences for the housing market.”




New homeowners aren’t the only ones caught in this shutdown: it also impacts every other home in an area with flood insurance that is up for renewal. If an existing homeowner has flood insurance but it is up for renewal now, they won’t be able to renew their policy. Some banks may require homeowners to pay their outstanding mortgage amount in full if they don’t have an active flood insurance policy. With more heavy rain headed to the eastern United States, some homeowners may find themselves without any flood insurance should a flood event hit their home, even if they’ve had flood insurance up to now.

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored Ad

Search

Latest News

  • Chief of Weather Agency Fired in Wake of Spy Balloon Drama; Second Balloon Reported Near Hawaii
  • U.S. East Coast Airspace Reopens after Military Strike Against Chinese Spy Balloon
  • Global Computer Forecast Models Keep Snow Out of I-95 Corridor through At Least Mid-February
  • Giant Spy Balloon from China Floating over Northern U.S., Forcing Airport & Airspace Closures
  • 2023 Groundhog Day Forecast In: 6 More Weeks of Winter
  • Green Comet to be Visible Tonight; It’ll Visit Earth Again in 45,000 Years
  • Today is the 20th Anniversary of Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
  • Loud Explosions over Portions of New Jersey Likely on Saturday; Won’t be Thunder
About | Careers | Contact | Contests
Terms | Privacy | Ad Choices
Weatherboy is a (R) Registered Trademark of isarithm LLC, All Rights Reserved.
All content herein is Copyright by Isarithm LLC 1997-2022