Will the NFIP cover homes flooded by the opening of the Morganza Spillway?

Published 6-3-2019 search group

It appears that your NFIP will cover floodway as well as spillway floods even if the Army Corps of Engineers opened the spillway waters.

In fact, the Morganza Spillway actually flows into a Floodway then that spills over into the "Spillway" which causes the flooding.

FEMA defines a flood as: A flood is (1) "A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is your property) from a. overflow of inland or tidal waters; b. unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or c. mudflow*. (2) collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined in A.1.a. above."

Get the news out to those that own homes in Floodways or Spillways that can qualify for a mortgage that will require you to have NFIP coverage.

The 30 day waiting period does not apply to secured loans using your home as security such as a mortgage. Also, you can insure your home for up to $250,000 for the structure and up to $100,000.
You would have to have all of your contents placed inside the NFIP insured structure before the flood event.

From FEMA Flood Smart website: "If you purchase flood insurance in connection with making, increasing, extending or renewing your mortgage loan, there is no waiting period."

Check with your banks and your NFIP agents to make sure they give you coverage when the storm is at your shoreline or the Mississippi is going to be opened up in your backyard. The FEMA trained people tell you you have to wait 30 days. But Lenders and Banks can get that waived.

Flood in Progress: FEMA memorandum June 30, 2011 "Guidance Related to Flood-in-Progress Exclusion and New Policy Applications" (Linked in resources below.)

This memorandum was in reference to the Morganza Spillway opening May 17, 2011. Once the Spillway is open it is a flood, a flood in progress and it is too late to insure your home at that point.

Please read this document if you do not have flood insurance and own a home in the spillway.

Research Resources:

Morganza Spillway (Wikipedia.Org)
FEMA Flood Smart exceptions "Is their a 30 day wait period?"
- If you purchase flood insurance in connection with making, increasing, extending or renewing your mortgage loan, there is no waiting period.
FEMA MEMO: Guidance Related to Flood-in-Progress Exclusion and New Policy Applications June 30, 2011
"Property owners in the path of Mississippi River flooding are taking out mortgages to beat the 30-day waiting period on insurance" NOLA.Com article AP article.
Insurance to pay for preparations/damages in spillway flooding, 2011 Morganza Spillway Louisiana Insurance Director realated article. Please be sure to check with your bank for more details.

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