In the February 17, 2016, issue of the Federal Register (click here) the FEMA issued a final rule listing certain communities that are suspended from participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) because of noncompliance with the floodplain management requirements of NFIP. The suspension becomes effective on March 16, 2016. This means that, as of March 16, 2016, flood insurance will no longer be available in those communities. See March 16, 2106, suspension list below. If, however, FEMA receives documentation before that date that a suspended community has adopted the required floodplain management measures, that community will not be suspended and will continue to be eligible for the sale of NFIP flood insurance. A notice withdrawing the suspension of such community will be published in the Federal Register. In addition, the final rule provides that no direct Federal financial assistance (except assistance pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act not in connection with a flood) may be provided for construction or acquisition of buildings in identified SFHAs for communities not participating in the NFIP and identified for more than a year on FEMA’s initial FIRM for the community as having flood-prone areas. This prohibition against certain types of Federal assistance also becomes effective for these communities on March 16, 2016.
