Introduction

Everyone lives in a flood zone whether you live in a low-, moderate- or high-risk flood area. You do not need to live near water to be flooded. Floods are caused by storms, melting snow, hurricanes, water backup due to inadequate or overloaded drainage systems, as well as broken water mains. You can protect your home, business, and belonging with flood insurance from the NFIP. Flood insurance is necessary because homeowners insurance does not cover flood losses. Anyone who applies for a federally-funded mortgage/loan or refinancing on an existing home in flood-prone areas will be required to carry flood insurance for the life of the mortgage/loan.

Whether your flood risk is low, moderate, or high, all residents in NFIP participating communities can purchase flood insurance. It is always a good idea to have flood insurance if you live in a high-risk flood area. But it is also good idea even in lower risk areas since between 25% and 30% of flood insurance claims come from areas that are designated as low-to-moderate risk areas. To learn more about your property's flood risk, please view FEMA's floodplain maps and/or visit FEMA's FloodSmart web site and complete the One-Step Flood Risk Profile box, a red box on the left side of the page.

Homes and businesses in low-to-moderate risk areas can obtain a Preferred Risk Policy, which is low-cost policy. To find out more about flood insurance and the different policy, contact your current insurance company or go to FEMA's FloodSmart web site, where you can find more information and search for an agent in your area.

For residents in NFIP non-participating communities, private insurance for such at-risk structures can be very expensive and difficult to obtain. For assistance in finding private insurance, contact your current insurance company.

Flood Insurance Manual

The NFIP Flood Insurance Manual contains the procedures and the rating tables set by FEMA that are used by insurance companies (called Write-Your-Own companies) to determine a flood insurance premium. The Manual is revised by FEMA in May and October of each year. Below is a summary of recent and proposed changes to the Manual including rates. Click on the below headings for more details.

• October 2012 Changes to Flood Insurance Manual - New or renewed policies effective on and after October 1, 2012 will see an average premium increase of 5%.
• Rate Increases for Non-Primary Residential Structures (e.g. Vacation or Second Homes) beginning on January 1, 2013

For More Information

Please visit FEMA’s FloodSmart Web site to find out about:

• Flood insurance policies and coverage
• Finding an agent in your area
• How to purchase flood insurance
• How to file a claim

Other helpful information about flood insurance can be found at the following links:

• NH Insurance Department Flood and Storm Information for Consumers
• What You Need to Know about Federal Disaster Assistance & National Flood Insurance
• The Myths and Facts about the National Flood Insurance Program
• Summary of Flood Insurance Coverage
• FEMA’s Flood Insurance Claims Handbook
• Increased Cost of Compliance Coverage
• FEMA's NFIP Floodplain Management Requirements - A Study Guide and Desk Reference for Local Officials - Unit 9 Flood Insurance & Floodplain Management

NH Flood Insurance Statistics (updated 2/8/13)

* Source: FEMA

Top 10 NH Communities with the Highest Number of Total Policies

* Source: FEMA

Top 10 NH Communities with the Highest Number of Total Paid Losses

* Source: FEMA

Top 10 NH Communities with the Highest Number of Total Repetitive Losses

* Source: FEMA
Repetitive Loss means flood-related damage sustained by a structure on two separate occasions during a 10-year period for which the cost of repairs at the time of each such flood event, on the average, equals or exceeds 25 percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.

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