The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 created the NFIP to:

• Better indemnify individuals for flood losses through insurance;
• Reduce future flood damages through State and community floodplain management regulations; and
• Reduce Federal expenditures for disaster assistance and flood control.

The 1968 Act prohibits FEMA from providing flood insurance unless the community adopts and enforces floodplain management regulations that meet or exceed the floodplain management criteria established in accordance with the Act. These floodplain management criteria are contained in Title 44, Chapter 1, Part 60 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) , Criteria for Land Management and Use.  The emphasis of the NFIP floodplain management requirements is directed toward reducing threats to lives and the potential for damage to property in flood prone areas.

In addition to providing flood insurance and reducing flood damage through floodplain management regulations, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifies and maps flood prone areas Nationwide as part of its administration of the NFIP. These maps create broad-based awareness of the flood hazards and provide the hazard and risk data needed for floodplain management programs and to actuarially rate new or reconstructed buildings for flood insurance.  As discussed elsewhere on this site, FEMA is has undertaken a multiyear effort to update and modernize these critically important emergency management and planning tools.  Information about FEMA’s Map Modernization (Map Mod) effort can be found at http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/mm_main.shtm.

The Mitigation Division, a component of FEMA, manages the NFIP.  The main components of their work are:

• Flood Insurance – Provide an alternative to disaster assistance and reduce the escalating costs of  flood disasters
• Floodplain Management – Assist communities in identifying and implementing sound floodplain practices and procedures
• Flood Hazard Mapping – Provide the data necessary for floodplain management and for the actuarially rating of new construction for flood insurance

In the 15 Parishes that will receive modernized maps as part of the LaMP effort, over 60 communities have chosen to participate in the NFIP by adopting and enforcing floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood damage. In exchange, the NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in these communities. .

In 1990, FEMA created the Community Rating System (CRS) program as an adjunct to the NFIP.   Through the CRS program, FEMA provides incentive for communities to exceed the minimum NFIP floodplain management requirements.  Participation in the CRS program not only means better floodplain management but provides a point system that can mean reduced flood insurance premiums for the citizens of the active CRS communities.  For more information on how to participate in the CRS or how a community can improve its standing in the CRS program, please visit:  http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/crs.shtm.  

Additionally, communities in the NFIP, regional entities such as flood control or planning districts, and state agencies can more actively partner with FEMA in the mapping of flood hazards through the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program.  To obtain more information on the CTP Program, please visit  http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/ctp_main.shtm.   Currently, Amite River Basin Commission, the Cities of Mandeville and Lake Charles, the Parishes of Jefferson, Rapides and St. Bernard, and the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security participate in the CTP Program.  To learn more about their activities, please click here.

Partnerships between FEMA and the state, local, and regional organizations to produce NFIP maps result in mutual benefits:

• The data used for local permitting and planning is also the basis for the NFIP map, facilitating more efficient floodplain management.
• The CTP Program provides the opportunity to interject a tailored, local focus into a national Program. Where unique conditions exist, the necessary and the special approaches to flood hazard identification may be taken.
• The partnership mechanism provides the opportunity to pool resources and extend the productivity of limited public funds.