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Mitigation Strategy Report FEMA-1134-DR-NC State of North Carolina Division of Emergency Management Participation in the NFIP is voluntary. Participation requires enacting local floodplain management regulations that meet FEMA minimum requirements (local governments can, however, implement standards that exceed NFIP requirements, and are encouraged to do so). For communities which do not participate in the NFiP, three sanctions are imposed. First, federally-backed flood insurance is not available. Second, insurable properties in SFHAs are eligible for limited Federal assistance following a Presidentially-declared disaster. Third, federaily regulated lenders cannot approve mortgages for structures in SFHAs without flood insurance. For these reasons, all communities with SFHAs within their jurisdictional boundaries are strongly encouraged to participate in the NFIP. The State has begun an aggressive outreach effort to encourage participation among local govemments. Non-participating communities are grouped into four categories. The first two are sanctioned and are, therefore, the State's highest priority. A sanctioned community is one in which a FIRM has been issued and the community has chosen not to join the program. Participating communities can be sanctioned if they fail to follow the requirements of NFIP. In total, North Carolina has 188 non-participating communities, 156 of which are in counties declared for Hurricane Fran. Non-participating communities are grouped as follows: 1. Issued a FHBM or a FIRM and are sanctioned (32 jurisdictions); 2. Not issued a FHBM or a FIRM and either contain or have annexed a SFHA, and are sanctioned (27 jurisdictions); 3, Not issued a FHBM or a FIRM but adjoins a SFHA (24 jurisdictions); 4. Not issued a FHBM or a FIRM and does not contain a known SFHA (105 jurisdictions). Regardless of the State's best efforts, some local governments will refuse to participate in NFIP. An additional means to address non-participation involves the expansion of existing Slate building codes to more explicitly address the regulation of unsound floodplain development practices. Existing codes are vague and inadequate. Incorporating improved floodplain management language into the State building code will further Improve EM's ability to ensure sound floodplain management practices among participating communities and provide an Improved means to control floodplain development among non-participating communities. . Flood Insurance Training and Education Flood insurance is required whenever financial assistance from a federally regulated institution is used to construct a building in a SFHA. However, numerous misunderstandings exist regarding the sale and purchase of flood insurance. Therefore, the education of the public, the insurance community, and local government officials should be improved to ensure that flood insurance is available to all eligible persons. The State, in partnership with FEMA, should lead this effort. Since many insurance companies issue NFIP policies, their agents should have the requisite knowledge and skill to write enforceable policies. Insurance agent workshops, conducted by FEMA, provide training to these agents and educate them about the Flood Insurance Program, rates, regulations, and basic underwriting guidelines. FEMA also conducts Lender Compliance Workshops. During these workshops, lenders are informed of their responsibilities as they relate to the existing guidelines and future NFIP changes. ~I I, I I Both workshops cover CBRS units and include a discussion of the prohibition of federally-backed flood insurance for structures buill or substantially improved within Cobra Zones after October 1, 1983, For those CBRS units added in 1990 by the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act (CBIA), the ban applies to those structures buill after November 16, 1990. No NFIP flood insurance claims can be paid if a policy was issued in error. Page 21