
The New York Times has created a mesmerizing and troubling (and clever) webpage that allows you to virtually drive down two streets in New Orleans's Lower Ninth Ward in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010. The animation stops at various properties along the way, so you can see how certain buildings have fared (some gone, some repaired, some still sitting much as,
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Tags: case study, funding & assistance, insurance

The White House released a statement today saying that it would not support the expansion of the National Flood Insurance Program to cover wind damage. Such a move would likely do no good, the statement explains, because the government's rates would be comparable to current market prices.
The whole statement:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF,
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Tags: funding & assistance, insurance

From our friends at NOAA:
CRest Grant Program – Coastal Resilience Networks Pacific Islands – Gulf of Mexico – West Coast
Coastal Resilience Networks (CRest) is a new and exciting grant opportunity for the Pacific Islands, Gulf of Mexico, and West Coast regions. The program funds projects that help communities become more resilient to the threats,
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Tags: adaptation & mitigation, building, emergency services, funding & assistance, infrastructure, insurance, training & outreach

We can't find this document online (yet), but BP has released a fact sheet providing an overview of the claims process. You can download a PDF of our scan of it here: "BP Claims Fact Sheet."
Here's the entire version in English:
FACT SHEET: BP CLAIMS
BP has established a process for Gulf Coast individuals, businesses and government entities to file,
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Tags: funding & assistance, insurance, oil spill

From the bright and informed folks over at the Association of State Floodplain Managers:
As part of a unanimous consent agreement last night, the Senate cleared a measure (HR 5569) that would extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2010. It was previously passed by the House, so it will become effective as soon,
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Tags: funding & assistance, insurance, regulations

FEMA has released a memo clarifying that in the event of a declared flood disaster, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) coverage will apply even if oil is mixed with flood waters.
The brief memo suggest that the NFIP will bill the party that caused the oil damage (in this case, British Petroleum) for the damages. And while this bit is somewhat less,
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Tags: funding & assistance, insurance, legal, oil spill, regulations

A new Houston Chronicle article argues that building the so-called "Ike Dike" will put more, not less people and property at great risk, and that the best way to protect property from hazards is to keep them out of hazardous areas.
In "Forget the Ike Dike, let’s improve building methods" Texas A&M professor John Jacob says that while the current,
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Tags: adaptation & mitigation, building, editorial, infrastructure, insurance, planning, regulations

FEMA has released a list of all communities scheduled to have new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) go active during 2010.
WARNING: the list isn't particularly reader-friendly. I'd recommend downloading it, then doing a search for the name of your community in the document. If it appears, look at the top of the table on that page for a line that reads,
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Tags: hazard identification, insurance, regulations

At the same time that parts of New England are threatening to float away from record-breaking floods, Congress allowed the National Flood Insurance Program to expire for the second time this year. As legislators won't be reconvening until April 12th, the program looks likely to sit in limbo for a couple of weeks (at least).
The Times-Picayune points out,
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Tags: insurance

[ORIGINAL MARCH 1 POST]:
Nothing to panic about (we don't think), but the US Senate failed to pass a reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). As a result, the NFIP officially expired last night.
FEMA, meanwhile, released an announcement last Friday expressing its confidence that the program will be reauthorized when the Senate,
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Tags: funding & assistance, insurance