Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen • September 2017 | Page 19

FEMA/NFIP ANNOUNCE
ENHANCED CLAIMS FILING
PROCESS FOR FLOOD
INSURANCE POLICYHOLDERS
AFFECTED BY HURRICANE IRMA
The Florida Office of
Insurance Regulation is
sharing guidance issued
by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)
addressing the claims
process for its National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP)
policyholders affected by
Hurricane Irma. Five bulletins
were issued on September
12th to applicable insurance
companies and insurance
adjusters with information on
a variety of subjects.
A summary of the applicable
information and links to each
bulletin are provided below:
1. Proof of Loss (POL) Waiver/
Extension (Applicable to
Standard Flood Insurance
Policies) – The POL is
waived for the initial claim
payment. However, if the
policyholder disputes the
payment or submits a request
for additional payment,
they must file a POL with
supporting documentation
by one year from the date of
loss.
2. Advance Payments
(Applicable to Standard Flood
Insurance Policies) – The
policyholder can request
an advance payment of
up to $5,000 for covered
flood damages prior to
the adjuster’s inspection.
The policyholder may also
request up to $20,000 prior
to the adjuster’s inspection
if they provide photographs
along with receipts or
canceled checks verifying
covered out-of-pocket
expenses or their contractor’s
estimate of covered
damages. After the adjuster’s
inspection, the policyholder
may request a larger advance
payment of up to 50% of
their contractor’s estimate of
covered repairs.
3. Enhanced Claim-Handling
for Prior Loss and Contents
Claims (Applicable to the
Standard Flood Insurance
Policy Dwelling Form
Only) – The adjuster may
group personal property by
category. Also, where there
is evidence of completed
repairs to damage from prior
flood losses, the NFIP is
not requiring the adjuster to
obtain the prior loss claim file
before adjusting the claim.
Period for Payment of NFIP
Premiums – The 30-day
grace period for premium
receipt is changed to 120
days for policies expiring
within a specified date range.
Please review the bulletin for
further details.
5. Enhanced Claim-Handling
Process for Building Losses
Insured (Applicable to the
Standard Flood Insurance
Policy Dwelling Form &
Group Flood Insurance
Policies)– The adjuster may
use a building valuation loss
adjustment to support a
large advance payment or if
the policy limit is exceeded,
conclude the claim in a timely
manner.
For more information on the
NFIP, visit their webpage
at: https://www.fema.gov/
national-flood-insurance-
program. For additional
resources, visit the Office’s
“Flood Insurance Resources”
webpage at: http://www.
floir.com/Sections/
PandC/FloodInsurance/
FloodInsurance.aspx.
• • •
4. Extension of the Grace
SEPTEMBER 2017 • DITCHMEN
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