FEMA Flood Maps

In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to help provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves. The NFIP offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners if their community participates in the NFIP. Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA requirements to reduce the risk of flooding.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency explains that the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

 “aims to reduce the impact of flooding on private and public structures. It does so by providing affordable insurance to property owners and by encouraging communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations. These efforts help mitigate the effects of flooding on new and improved structures. Overall, the program reduces the socio-economic impact of disasters by promoting the purchase and retention of general risk insurance, but also of flood insurance, specifically”.

The Town of Narragansett, and all other Rhode Island Cities and Towns participate in the NFIP.  By participating, property owners can purchase federally –backed flood insurance, as typically home owners insurance does not cover flooding.  For more information on Flood Insurance, please go to www.floodsmart.gov .  

Flood risk can, and does, change over time, and flood risks change for many reasons such as new development, changes in levee classification, or environmental changes (to name a few). As a result the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated flood hazard maps across the country. These new flood maps, also, known as Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs), show flood risk at a property-by-property level.  The most recent flood maps for the Town of Narragansett have an effective date of October 16, 2013.

When new maps are issued, your risk may have changed as well, along with your flood insurance requirements. If your property is mapped out of a high-risk area, your flood insurance costs will likely decrease. If you’ve been mapped into a high-risk area, you will be required to purchase flood insurance if your mortgage is through a federally regulated or insured lender. In any case, since standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it’s important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains, and other conditions that impact the U.S, regardless of whether you are in a flood zone or not. 

Please visit the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) and FloodSmart for additional important information.