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New FEMA Flood Maps for Harris County, TX

New FEMA flood maps take effect January 6, 2016 for Harris County, Texas. The new FEMA flood maps negatively impact more than 14,000 properties by placing either the entire property or a portion of the property into a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA: A and V Zones) for the first time. This means new flood insurance requirements for thousands of property owners in Harris County.

If you have clients that own and/or manage properties in Harris County that presently are not in the SFHA, call us to discuss how our unique Flood Zone Determination Service can identify which, if any, of your client’s properties will be placed in the SFHA by the new FEMA flood maps. We will help you minimize your errors and omission exposure while reducing the risk of your clients suffering uninsured or under-insured flood losses.

Hurricane Matthew Is On It’s Way

Last night, the trajectory of Hurricane Matthew shifted to the west, according to the advisory of the National Hurricane Center. This means that according to the current models Hurricane Matthew is expected to skirt along the east coast of Florida and the Carolinas beginning this Thursday, potentially making a landfall in the outer banks of North Carolina this weekend.

This is a large and powerful hurricane about the size of Arizona. Even if Hurricane Matthew does not make direct landfall along the east coast of Florida or the Carolinas, the storm is wide enough that areas along the east coast of these states are expected to feel hurricane force winds as well as experience substantial amounts of rain and storm surge. Due to the size of Hurricane Matthew, areas in central Florida and on the west coast of Florida may also feel tropical storm or hurricane force winds and experience substantial rainfall. If the storm track shifts further to the west, and the storm makes landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, the effects would be much worse for the area in which it makes landfall.

Therefore, everyone along the east coast of Florida and the Carolinas should begin making appropriate preparations, while those in central and western Florida should be prepared for strong wind and rain. We will provide another update late afternoon today.

As always, we encourage you to stay alert and make all necessary preparations in an attempt to minimize the impact of possible flooding on your homes and businesses:
• Monitor your surroundings and NOAA weather alerts;
• Review your disaster response and recovery plan with your staff and/or family members;
• Make sure you have plenty of drinking water and food reserves;
• Ensure that important document files are backed up away from your property so they aren’t lost if electronics and paper files are destroyed by water;
• Take all necessary steps to prevent the release of dangerous chemicals that may be stored on the property;
• Contact your property insurance agent.

It only takes one storm to make it a bad year for your business. We have substantial expertise assessing, insuring, and mitigating flood risk. Stay alert and contact us to learn how we may be able to improve how you insure your client’s flood risk.

Presenting at the MBA Insurance Conclave 2016

Agency Flood Resources was once again honored to present at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (“MBA”) Insurance Conclave, which was held on September 20th in Chicago, IL. The audience included over 50 risk management professionals from commercial lending and loan servicing organizations as well as from life insurance companies and federal regulatory agencies who are responsible for property and casualty insurance compliance for portfolios of commercial and multifamily loan portfolios.

Dan Freudenthal, President at Agency Flood Resources, shared his insights on the topic of “Flood Insurance: let’s talk flood losses. The collateral floods… what happens next?”. In the session, panelists discussed case studies demonstrating how flood deductibles impact claim payments, how flood losses are really settled, how to manage the claim, and what to do if there is not enough coverage to cover the loss. The panelists also further discussed SFHA flood deductible language, possible gaps in coverage, managing between the NFIP and excess coverage, private market alternatives, information the borrower should know, obstacles to payment, lessons learned and how a servicer should be plugged in to influence the timing and amount of payment.

Mr. Freudenthal was presenting together with Alice Edwards, Managing Director – Forensics at PwC. The session was moderated by Laura Smith, SVP Loan Administration at Berkadia.

As a nationally recognized expert and thought leader in the area of flood risk, Mr. Freudenthal has been an active speaker at risk management and commercial real estate conferences about the topics of flood risk, flood insurance, flood zone correction and elevation certificates, and has published numerous articles in commercial real estate, risk management and insurance industry publications.

Into the Peak of the Hurricane Season

Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1st, the hurricane activity peaks from mid-August through mid-October – a period commonly referred to as a “season within the season”, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Weather experts view this time of the year as the most active and dangerous time for tropical cyclone activity, accounting for 78 percent of the tropical storm days, 87 percent of the category 1 and 2 hurricane days, and 96 percent of the major (category 3, 4 and 5) hurricane days.

Just two weeks ago a slow-moving area of low pressure and near-record amounts of atmospheric moisture led to extreme rainfall and historic flooding in southeast Louisiana.

Last night, Tropical Depression Nine, the area previously called Invest 99L, developed just south of Florida and moves near the Florida Keys, western Cuba and southern Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. While it currently remains poorly organized, meteorologists predict that the system could become a tropical storm as it turns northward then northeastward over the Gulf of Mexico this week, and could cause heavy rain and localized flash flooding.

Despite the level of weather activity as we move into the peak of the hurricane season, we encourage you to stay alert and make all necessary preparations in an attempt to minimize the impact of possible flooding on your business:
• Monitor your surroundings and NOAA weather alerts;
• Review your disaster response and recovery plan with your staff and/or family members;
• Ensure that important document files are backed up away from your property so they aren’t lost if electronics and paper files are destroyed by water;
• Take all necessary steps to prevent the release of dangerous chemicals that may be stored on the property;
• Contact your property insurance agent.

It only takes one storm to make it a bad year for your business. Our flood team has substantial expertise assessing, insuring, and mitigating flood risk. Contact us to learn how we may be able to improve how you insure your client’s flood risk.

Are You Ready For 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season?

Since June 1st marked the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season that will run through November 30th, we look at the predictions and focus on how to improve how you insure your clients’ hurricane and flood risk.

This hurricane season has already gotten off to an unusual start. While weather experts predicted near-normal Atlantic hurricane season having less storms than average, Tropical Storm Colin has already set a new record for the earliest third named storm in the Atlantic basin only 6 days into June. According to the National Hurricane Center, getting to the “C” storm in the Atlantic name list in June is exceedingly rare and it is the earliest that a third named storm has ever formed in the Atlantic basin.

Colin made landfall in Florida on Monday night. Some parts of Florida picked up as much as 10 inches of rain, and much of the Tampa Bay area still had standing water as of this morning, according to the National Weather Service. The National Hurricane Center declared Colin as “post-tropical” as it moves away from land over the western Atlantic Ocean.

For those of your clients with buildings in areas susceptible to damage from wind and/or storm surge resulting from tropical storms and hurricanes, their named windstorm and flood coverages are extremely important components of their risk management and insurance program. Do not wait for a named windstorm event to bring to your attention deficiencies in the named windstorm or flood insurance coverage you have placed for your clients. Take advantage of our proprietary private market flood insurance program that applies to all flood zone classifications (A, B, C, D and X zones) and all asset classes of commercial real estate. It is designed exclusively for those who fit the following criteria:

  • Have multiple locations insured with NFIP flood insurance;
  • Have flood coverage in their master property insurance program;
  • Have a minimum of $25,000 in total NFIP premiums;
  • Want a more efficient way to buy primary layer flood insurance;
  • Want better primary layer coverage than NFIP flood insurance.

Agency Flood Resources has substantial expertise assessing and insuring hurricane and flood risk, so feel free to contact us with any questions you may have regarding our private market flood program or other private market flood insurance programs available in the rapidly developing private flood marketplace.

Three Key Elements of the New Flood Insurance Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 2901, known formally as the Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act, by a vote of 419-0 last Thursday. This is a very positive development for insureds, insurance agents and insurance carriers, because it provides much needed clarity on three important issues that have been holding back the development of the private flood marketplace:

  1. Lender Acceptance: If it becomes law, lenders will have clear authority to accept private market flood insurance as an acceptable alternative to National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance.
  2. Pre-FIRM Rates and Grandfathering: If it becomes law, it would eliminate the loss of pre-FIRM and grandfathered rating options, allowing insureds to be considered by FEMA to have maintained continuous insurance coverage if they leave the NFIP to buy private market flood insurance and then go back to NFIP later on.
  3. Regulation of Private Flood Insurance: If it becomes law, state insurance regulators will determine the specifics of acceptable coverage for private flood insurance sold by admitted carriers within their respective states.

The bill was sponsored by Reps. Dennis Ross (R-FL) and Patrick Murphy (D-FL) and aimed to clarify some provisions within previous legislation passed in 2012. Congressman Murphy is our local representative in the U.S. Congress and for several months we have been in communication with he and his staff about the legislation.

If you have any questions about this legislation or if you want us to help you find private market alternatives to NFIP flood insurance for your clients, please contact us. We would be pleased to help you.


Post by Dan Freudenthal

Flood Warning: Major Flash Flooding Hits Houston Region with More Rain to Come

As a slow-moving low pressure system is pushing from the Rockies in the nation’s midsection, torrential rainfall is causing major flash flooding in parts of southeast Texas. The Houston area is particularly affected, witnessing over 17 inches of rain that fell on Monday alone, as reported by local meteorologists.

According to the Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) earlier this morning, additional rounds of rainfall are expected over the next several days for flood-prone parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, including the Houston metro area. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is prone to heavy rains, and has seen a number of flooding events in the last year alone. However, this flood is by far the largest since Tropical Storm Allison (2001), making April 18th the second wettest calendar day on record for official reporting stations in Houston, dating back to 1888.

Since flash floods develop quickly, Agency Flood Resources encourages all those affected to stay alert and follow all necessary safety tips:

  • Monitor your surroundings and NOAA weather alerts;
  • Avoid disaster areas and any water covered roads, as vehicles can be swept away by less than 2 feet of water;
  • Get out of low areas that may be subject to flooding;
  • Watch for washed out roads, earth slides, and downed trees or power lines;
  • Stay away from power lines and electrical wires.

Agency Flood Resources also warns not to return to flooded areas until authorities indicate it is safe to do so and to use extreme caution when entering buildings that were flooded. Additional tips include:

  • Do not enter a building if it is still flooded or surrounded by floodwater;
  • Check for structural damage, inspect foundations for cracks or other damage;
  • Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims;
  • Look for fire hazards, electrical system damage and broken utility lines;
  • Report damages to the local authorities and contact your property insurance agent.

Agency Flood Resources has substantial expertise assessing, insuring and mitigating flood risk, therefore please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have and to learn how we may be able to improve how you insure your client’s flood risk.


 

Private Market Flood Program Delivers a Winning Solution to a National Outlet Store Company

Our client, a national outlet store owner and operator, was looking for a private market flood insurance solution that would satisfy their needs for primary layer flood coverage better than NFIP flood insurance. Our client has outlet stores in 28 buildings at 19 locations that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA: flood zones beginning with letters A and V). NFIP flood insurance did not satisfy their needs due to having multiple policies, scattered renewal dates, limits that would not adequately cover their merchandise and improvements and betterments, and the 10% annual cost increase that is expected for many years to come.

We used our exclusive private market flood insurance program to deliver a solution that was customized to their specific needs. Our winning solution simplifies the administration of primary layer flood insurance, reduces their flood insurance costs, delivers limits and coverage terms that perfectly match their needs to eliminate gaps in coverage.

Download this case study (.pdf) to view the comparison of the benefits of our program compared to NFIP flood insurance.


Do you have commercial lines clients who fit this criteria? If so, call us today to take advantage of our private market flood program to offer winning flood insurance solutions to your clients.

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Premium Reduction Service Increases Self-Storage Property Value By More Than $625,000

One of the nation’s leading self-storage companies owns a property in Texas with 8 buildings, where the NFIP flood insurance premiums were $52,014 for the 8 NFIP policies. The client desperately sought a solution that would decrease its flood insurance costs while allowing it to maintain the same coverage in order to satisfy its lender’s flood insurance requirement.

The Solution

Our industry-leading flood team quickly determined that there were more favorable rates available for these buildings. This enabled us to re-rate the flood policies using the lower cost rate structure available through the NFIP. As a result, our Premium Reduction Service captured a large insurance refund, delivered substantial future savings, and increased the value of this property.

The Results

Our Premium Reduction Service delivered following valuable benefits:

  • Reduced annual flood premiums by $43,938 (84%).
  • Increased property value by more than $625,000 by capitalizing the annual savings at a 7% capitalization rate.
  • Procured a $43,938 insurance refund.

Download this case study in .pdf.


Contact us today to learn how our Premium Reduction Service can deliver valuable benefits to your clients.

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AFR Introduces Flood Zone Determination Service

Agency Flood Resources (AFR) is proud to announce the launch of an innovative and superior flood zone determination service that is designed to deliver results that are more accurate and more timely than the results of other flood zone determination providers. Our unique service is far more likely to prevent uninsured flood losses and enhance timely decision making, by solving many of the problems that are inherent to conventional flood zone determination processes.

The current industry standards are for lenders to run annual determinations on the anniversary of their initial determination and for insurance agents to, at best, run annual determinations as they approach each property insurance renewal. Both of these industry standards fail to identify map changes that occur in between the annual determinations and they fail to deliver results before a new flood map takes effect. These deficiencies leave most property owners susceptible to substantial uninsured flood losses and unexpected increases to their budget, while insurance agents susceptible to substantial errors and omissions exposure. Our innovative flood zone determination service is designed to notify you of forthcoming flood map changes in real-time prior to a new flood map taking effect, which greatly reduces the risk of your clients suffering uninsured flood losses and unexpected budget increases and, therefore, minimizes your errors and omissions exposure.

The current industry standard is for determinations to be based solely on geocode data and generated by systems that are completely automated, which increase the probability of error. Our proprietary process begins with Certified Floodplain Managers using property appraiser data to manually identify the correct parcel and then plot the parcel boundary and the footprint of each building to ensure accurate results.

The current industry standard is to base a determination on one pin point that is placed either at the mid-point of the boundary line adjoining the street or in the center of the parcel. Both of these processes are prone to error for large parcels or parcels with multiple buildings because they often span multiple flood zones. Our process ensures accurate results for every building regardless of the size of the property or the number of buildings on the property.

The current industry standard is to deliver a standard flood hazard determination form for each street address, which is an inefficient format for results for companies with sizable portfolios. Our system delivers a flood zone determination report in an Excel spreadsheet format, which makes it easy and quick to analyze results and to incorporate results in your client’s schedule of values.

Why reply on outdated technology and processes when, for about the cost, you can leverage our state-of-the-art technology platform and innovative process to monitor flood zone changes for your client’s entire portfolio in real-time.


Contact us to learn how our innovative flood zone determination service will minimize your errors and omission exposure while reducing the risk of your clients suffering uninsured flood losses.

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