The National Flood Insurance Program =
(NFIP) is a=20
Federal program, which was established to allow property =
owners in=20
participating communities to purchase insurance protections =
against=20
losses from flooding.
Participation in the NFIP is =
based on=20
an agreement between local communities and the Federal =
Government=20
that states if a community will adopt and enforce a =
floodplain=20
management ordinance to reduce future flood risks to new=20
construction and substantial improvements in Special Flood =
Hazard=20
Areas, the Federal Government will make flood insurance =
available=20
within the community at a low cost.
The NFIP is =
administered=20
by the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration =
(FIMA),=20
formerly the Federal Insurance Administration ( FIA) and the =
Mitigation Directorate, components of the Federal Emergency=20
Management Agency (FEMA).
The
Department of Land =
and=20
Natural Resources (DLNR) has been designated as the =
State=20
Coordinating Agency responsible for assisting the =
coordination of=20
the program between the Federal and County agencies in =
Hawaii. All=20
four of our Counties are participating Communities in the =
NFIP and=20
each Community has a representative NFIP=20
Coordinator.
In order for FIMA to determine the =
insurance=20
premium rates, FEMA developed flood hazard rating maps =
called FIRMs=20
(Flood Insurance Rate Maps). The supporting documentation =
for the=20
FIRMs are published in the FIS (Flood Insurance Study). =
Development=20
in Special Flood Hazard Areas, as identified on the FIRMs, =
are=20
regulated by the NFIP.
The minimum NFIP rules and =
regulations=20
are set forth in Title 44 of the =
Code of=20
Federal Regulations. Each Community must also establish =
local=20
flood hazard ordinances, which may be more stringent than =
the NFIP=20
regulations.