FEMA announced this week that insurers cannot issue new flood insurance policies or renew policies during the government shutdown.
Louisiana currently has approximately 501,000 homeowners who depend on a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy. Of that total, an estimated 40,000 policies renew monthly but are currently unable to renew under FEMA’s rule issued as a result of the government shutdown.
Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement today on the shutdown:
“The real life consequences of the federal government shutdown continues to grow with each passing day,” said Gov. Edwards. “Today, Louisiana is being inundated by torrential downpours which makes FEMA’s decision to disallow the renewal or issuing of new policies through the National Flood Insurance Program a real concern to thousands of families in our state. In addition, the Violence Against Women’s Act has lapsed and thousands of federal employees are spending the holidays without pay. There are very real ramifications to this government shutdown, but there appears to be a lack of urgency in Washington to forge a compromise. This is unacceptable, and it’s time for those in Congress and the Administration to come together to find a bipartisan solution to end this shutdown.”
