Flood Preparations: What Realtors and Homeowners Need to Know

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) worked with the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) to create a single-source guide for Realtors who need to understand flood insurance – everything from buying it the first time to making a claim after a disaster.

The following list of links contains multiple resources agents and lenders can use, including webpages, fact sheets, infographics and publications. The materials can be used to promote flood insurance to the public, and resources can help agents explain the financial requirements and benefits flood insurance offers to buyers and homeowners.

A Real Estate Professional’s Guide to Discussing Flood Insurance

• FEMA Flood Preparedness Resources for Real Estate Professionals
  Customers have questions, and this resource provides a broad overview of the U.S. flood insurance program.

• NFIP Door Hanger
  Printable and customizable versions can promote flood insurance.

• The Cost of Flooding Tool
  This interactive tool can help owners or buyers visualize the risk of a home flooding, even if that flood is only a few inches deep.

• Be Prepared for a Flood
  This brochure outlines the steps homeowners should take if a flooding event appears imminent, as well as during and after a flood.

• Flood Social Media Toolkit
  A webpage resource that include a vast amount of tools and links that can be shared on social media. It covers a wide range of topics, from flood planning to recovery after an event.

• 12 Ways to Prepare
  A shareable graphic lists 10 flood preparation tips.

• Document and Insure Your Property
  Regular property insurance does not cover flooding, and this resource explains the various types of home coverage and what each does – and does not – do.

• Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
  Important papers can be lost in a flood. This overview, offered in six languages, helps homeowners focus on important household information – identification, financial and legal documents, medical information, contacts, etc. – that should be in order before a disaster occurs.

• Insurance Moonshot Starter Kit
  How do you create a local program that promotes flood insurance? This kit contains key messages and communication templates that can be used to promote the value of flood insurance in disaster recovery.

• Why Buy Flood Insurance
  Many people balk at buying flood insurance. This webpage (NFIP consumer site) explains its importance and answers many commonly asked questions.

• How to Buy Flood Insurance
  Generally, insurer agents offer federal flood insurance policies, a process detailed here along with help finding an insurance provider.

• Preferred Risk Policy
  The owners of a home located in an area deemed low risk by FEMA pay less. This page offers more information about one of these preferred risk policies.

• How Can I Pay Less for My Flood Insurance
  Information here can help homeowners reduce the cost of their flood insurance cost by choosing things such as a higher deductible.

• Before and After a Flood
  This is the nuts-and-bolts of dealing with a flood disaster – how to start a flood insurance claim, and what to do before and after a flood.

• FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  Is a home in a low- or high-risk flood zone? Find out here on the public source for flood hazard information.

• FEMA Data Visualization tool
  FEMA’s “mission is “to execute federal open data machine readable policies and standards, and to promote a culture and empower open government within FEMA.” More information can be found on this page.

• For Agents FloodSmart.gov
  Show customers the cost of flooding. This is the main flood insurance information page for insurance agents.

• FloodSmart.gov – NFIP Marketing Resource Library
  FEMA offers tools insurance agents can use to promote and market sales of flood insurance policies.

• Fema.gov
  Go here for more information on other programs offered by FEMA.

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