Buildings covered by flood insurance are often referred to as Pre- or Post-FIRM. A building's classification has an impact on its rates.

Pre-FIRM structures were constructed before the effective date of the first Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for a community. These buildings were built before detailed flood data and flood elevations were provided to the community and therefore not constructed with flood protection in mind. Often, they are eligible to receive "subsidized" rates.
Post-FIRM structures were constructed or substantially improved after the issuance of a community's first flood map. These structures must comply with FEMA's flood plain management requirements for the community.

Agents can access these resources below for additional information:

NFIP Policy Forms: View or print the three policy forms discussed in this article.
NFIP Summary of Coverage: Easy-to-read guide about the Dwelling Form, what it covers, exclusions and how damaged items are valued at the time of a loss.
NFIP Community Status Book: A listing of communities participating in the NFIP.
NFIP Flood Definitions: A listing of terms and acronyms commonly used by the NFIP.
Flood Map Service Center: FEMA's online map service for looking up property flood zones.
FloodSmart: Agent and consumer flood insurance news and resources.
FloodTools: Visual flood maps, loss calculators, claimant videos and educational materials.
NFIP Training & Workshops: Online tutorials for agents.
iService: Register to receive news bulletins from the NFIP.

Paula M. Keith, CPIW, is a WYO client relations director at Aon National Flood Services. Contact her at paula.keith@nationalfloodservices.com.

Special Reports /

When Mother Nature has a bad day, it pays to understand flood insurance