Congress adopted the National Flood Insurance Act in 1968

Intended to defray federal expenditures on flood recovery and to reduce future flood damages

Four-legged stool:

• Floodplain mapping

• Floodplain management standards

• Flood hazard mitigation

• Flood insurance

As May 2024, ~ 22,100 communities participated in NFIP = 93% of the population

Goal: Reduce hazards to humans and structures from flooding events.  Not designed to protect floodplain habitat or species

Requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program:

• Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement as part of any federally backed loan

• Local community must participate in NFIP to qualify for certain disaster relief and federal funding for projects in the floodplain

• Property owners must have flood insurance to qualify for disaster relief following flood event

• Federal funds may not be used for projects in the SFHA if community is not participating in NFIP

•Result: Voluntary program effectively rendered mandatory

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