Flood Insurance Information:
- Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federally underwritten program. You can buy an NFIP policy through any state-licensed property and casualty insurance agent. A specialized agent provides insurance options; they can help you decide which is best for you. Find an agent at FloodSmart.gov.
- Flood insurance requirements are based on current effective Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).
- To learn more about flood insurance, visit the NFIP websites at https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance and http://www.floodsmart.gov.
- The NFIP provides flood insurance in more than 22,000 communities across the nation that have agreed to adopt and enforce sound floodplain management regulations.
- FEMA recommends that all residents and business owners buy flood insurance to help protect their financial investments.
- With a high percentage of rental properties in Tompkins County, renters are encouraged to consider contents-only flood insurance, which can help protect items inside of a unit in the event of a flood.
- Knowing where and when map changes are occurring will help community members know their best insurance options. Digital Preliminary FIRMs can be found at FEMA's FIRM Viewer of Tompkins County.
- Properties that are in the 1% Annual Chance of Flood Hazard (also known as the Special Flood Hazard Area, Zones A or AE, or 100 year flood zone) are the properties where federally backed mortgage holders are required to purchase flood insurance. Federally backed mortgages also include mortgages like those that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy off of lenders. Learn more on the FDIC's Flood Insurance FAQ.
Printable Insurance FAQs
FAQ produced through a FEMA and NFIP initiative to ensure insurance agents understand flood maps and how they show a property’s flood risk
Effects of Map Changes on Flood Insurance in a Risk Rating 2.0 World (June 2022)
Produced by the Association of State Floodplain Managers to answer the top questions floodplain managers hear about flood insurance
National Flood Insurance Program: Community Rating System (2018)
A Local Official’s Guide to Saving Lives, Preventing Flood Damage, and Reducing the Cost of Flood Insurance