FLOOD INSURANCE ROUNDTABLE BRINGS KEY PUBLIC, PRIVATE PARTNERS
TOGETHER TO INCREASE INSURANCE COVERAGE IN VIRGINIA
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230425/flood-insurance-roundtable-brings-key-public-private-partners-together]


Release Date: 
December 4, 2018 

PHILADELPHIA – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Region III, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, will be
hosting the Virginia Flood Insurance Partners Roundtable. FEMA, the
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the Virginia
Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), the Virginia State
Corporation Commission (SCC), and the Hampton Roads Planning District
Commission (HRPDC) planned and coordinated the roundtable to bring
together key stakeholders to discuss insurance. This meeting includes
local, state, federal, and private sector partners, including Virginia
state agency partners, floodplain managers, emergency managers,
realtors, lenders, and insurance agents from across the Commonwealth
to engage in a critical discussion on increasing flood insurance
coverage in Virginia and reducing flood risk.

“Hurricanes Florence and Michael showed the impact flooding can have
on all regions of the Commonwealth” stated Jeff Stern, State
Coordinator of Emergency Management for VDEM. “Flood risks from
these events and others are very real, and this workshop will build
bridges with key partners to reduce those risks across Virginia.”
This unique opportunity allows for an open discussion concerning past
flooding events, the risk of future flooding, and the importance of
having flood insurance. Roundtable activities will kick-off in the
morning with a panel featuring state and local representatives
discussing their experience with flooding and insurance, and how to
ensure more Virginians prepare for and mitigate against flood threats.

“No matter where you live in Virginia, it’s important to know your
flood risk and have coverage to protect your home or business,”
stated Clyde Cristman, DCR Director. “This event brings together
critical stakeholders in insurance and floodplain management to find
ways to raise awareness about flood insurance in the Commonwealth.”
The panel session will look at how different industry players also
communicate risk to their stakeholders and how collectively the group
can grow flood insurance coverage across Virginia. This will also
include a discussion on updates to the National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP).

In the afternoon session, breakout groups will focus on growing
partnerships between the federal, state, local and private sectors,
local floodplain management, insurance affordability, perception and
communication of flood risks, and the value of flood insurance in
helping communities recover from disasters. Most homeowners’
insurance policies do not cover damages from floods. “Flood
insurance provides the best protection against financial ruin after a
flood. Getting just one inch of water in your home could cost more
than $25,000. The roundtable highlights both the need for insurance
and the importance of working with our state, local, federal, and
private sector partners on reducing flood risk,” stated FEMA Region
III Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney. “Flooding can happen at
any time, and insurance can help property owners to rebuild and
recover faster and more resiliently.”

With the partners attending the roundtable, FEMA, DCR, VDEM, the SCC
and HRPDC hope to broaden the conversation on reducing the risk of
future flooding, increasing the number of residents covered by flood
insurance, and to establish productive partnerships with insurance
stakeholders in Virginia.

The roundtable event is followed by an open house, which features
information tables and subject matter experts who are available to
answer consumer questions about flood risk and insurance. “We
continue to work with the private sector and government partners to
communicate flood insurance and risk in Virginia,” stated Don
Beatty, Deputy Commissioner for Policy & Compliance at the SCC. “You
should discuss the desirability of buying flood insurance with your
agent.” The open house will also allow individuals to review current
flood maps and discuss hazard mitigation which can reduce their risk
to flooding. Consumers with questions about private flood insurance
can contact the Bureau of Insurance Property and Casualty Division at
(804) 371-9185 or toll-free at 1-877-310-6560 or at
BureauOfInsurance@scc.virginia.gov.

The NFIP aims to reduce the impact of flooding on private and public
structures by providing affordable insurance to property owners,
renters and businesses and by encouraging communities to adopt and
enforce floodplain management regulations. These efforts help mitigate
the effects of flooding on new and improved structures. The 2018 Flood
Insurance Roundtable events represent FEMA Region III’s close
partnerships with all of our states to reduce flood risk and ensure
property owners and communities are more resilient to future flooding.

To learn more about DCR’s Floodplain Management Program, please
visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/floods
[http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/dam-safety-and-floodplains/floodplain-index].
To learn more about your flood risk, access the Virginia Flood Risk
Information System at www.dcr.virginia.gov/vfris
[http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/vfris].

To learn more about VDEM, please visit www.VAemergency.gov/
[http://www.vaemergency.gov/].

To learn more about the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission,
please visit www.hrpdcva.gov/ [https://www.hrpdcva.gov/].

To learn more about the NFIP and how to purchase flood insurance,
please visit www.FEMA.gov/national-flood-insurance-program
[https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program] and
www.Floodsmart.gov [https://www.floodsmart.gov/]. To learn more about
FEMA Region III, please visit www.FEMA.gov [http://www.fema.gov/] and
www.FEMA.gov/region-iii
[https://www.fema.gov/region-iii-dc-de-md-pa-va-wv].

 

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after
disasters. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the
District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West
Virginia. Learn more about FEMA Region III at www.FEMA.gov/region-iii
[https://www.fema.gov/region-iii-dc-de-md-pa-va-wv]. Stay informed of
FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at
fema.gov/medialibrary [http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary] and
youtube.com/fema [http://www.youtube.com/fema]. Follow us on Twitter
at twitter.com/femaregion3 [http://www.twitter.com/femaregion3].

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