A REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM’S FINANCIAL HEALTH

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Degree type
Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
Graduate group
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Environmental Studies
Subject
national flood insurance program
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author or copyright holder retaining all copyrights in the submitted work
Copyright date
2024
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Author
Claire Kim
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Abstract

States such as Louisiana, Texas, New York, New Jersey, and others, with high exposure, have been and will continue to experience more intense flood events from hurricanes that could possibly damage residents’ and tenants’ properties. In such situations, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders will file claims for flood damages. With the current tremendous amount of debt due to a skewed balance between premiums and claims, the NFIP may encounter financial crisis in the coming future. This study analyzed the solvency of NFIP from FY 2018 to FY 2022. One part of the examination involved ascertaining the annual amount of premiums, claims, number of policies and more. In addition, four hurricanes that are known to have caused an inordinate number of claims to the NFIP were studied. While there are several alarming statements made and studies done on the program’s ongoing insolvency, research that examines the financial health of the program is scarce, and this could provide a base for further research in the future. As the NFIP is the one and only federal flood insurance program that operates in the United States, it is crucial to organize a financial framework in keeping the program solid. From 1970 to present, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Harvey, and Hurricane Ian are the four major hurricanes that were most costly to the NFIP. It has been noted that the program’s net income from the flood fund has been portraying fiscal deficit, and its available resources heavily rely on the remaining borrowing authority from the Treasury. Given the fact that the program was not originally constructed to reimburse tremendous amounts of claims as they had done post four major hurricanes, the program does not have the ability to pay off both the principal and interest amounts to the debt borrowed from the Treasury. To address the financial straits, it is imperative to cancel the current debt and reconstruct the program’s framework. This reconstruction will allow the NFIP to become more financially sustainable to be committed to provide flood insurance, floodplain management, risk mapping, and mitigation/adaptation information to its policyholders and participating communities with a reduced risk of insolvency.

Advisor
Miller, John A.
Bordeaux, Yvette
Date of degree
2024
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