FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters.
Overview This toolkit consists of key messages and templates that can be leveraged during FEMA’s National Level Exercise by
community partners to educate residents about the importance of preparing for a hurricane with flood insurance.
All materials should be customized for specific communities or media markets. Yellow areas indicate language that is
meant to be modified.
In this document you’ll find:
Key Messages
Press Release Template
Social Media
o (6) draft posts for Facebook & Twitter; (9) graphics
“Why Buy and How to Buy Flood Insurance” Fact Sheet
2018 National Level Exercise
NFIP Outreach Toolkit
FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters.
Key Messages
Every day FEMA is preparing to support the next disaster.
o The National Level Exercise (NLE) 2018 – a key activity in building a culture of preparedness
throughout the country – will occur April 30 to May 11, 2018 and will examine the ability of all
levels of government, private industry, and nongovernmental organizations to prepare for, respond to,
and recover from a major Mid-Atlantic hurricane.
o FEMA is leveraging the National Level Exercise and its participating organizations as an opportunity
to amplify the hurricane preparedness message to individuals, businesses, and community
organizations in advance of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season
o While FEMA and its partners are preparing – have you thought about what you are doing to protect
the life you’ve built?
Now is the time to prepare for hurricane season—and buying flood insurance is one of most important
steps you can take to protect the life you’ve built.
o We know from experience that residents and businesses with flood insurance recover faster than those
that don’t. Many people don’t realize how important it is to protect the lives they’ve built with flood
insurance. Often they think their property is not at risk because it has never flooded or it isn’t in a
high-risk flood zone.
o In fact, approximately 80 percent of households impacted by the hurricanes in 2017 did not have
flood insurance. (FEMA)
o Today, more than 42 percent of people have not assessed their coverage needs for all forms of
insurance following the losses from 2017’s storms. (Clearsurance)
o Along with flood insurance, there are other steps you can take to prepare for hurricane season.
Residents should assemble a go-bag: disaster supply kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, first
aid supplies, medications, and copies of critical information. They should also establish an evacuation
route and make a family communications plan. Visit Ready.gov/hurricanes for more information.
The 2017 hurricane season was one of the most devastating and costly on record. Forecasters are
predicting that severe storms on this scale will continue.
o Back-to-back hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria caused nearly $200 billion in damage. (Bloomberg)
o NFIP policyholders have filed over 125,000 claims, and the NFIP has paid over $9.6 billion as a
result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
o In 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused approximately $10 billion in flooding damage alone. (NOAA)
o Just one inch of flood water can result in more than $25,000 worth of damage to your home. (FEMA)
Flooding can happen anywhere, not just in high-risk areas.
o 98% of counties in the United States have experienced a flood. (FEMA)
o More than 20 percent of flood insurance claims are for properties that reside outside high risk areas.
(FEMA)
o During Hurricane Harvey, nearly half of all flood insurance claims in the Houston-area came from
homes outside of the high-risk flood area. Approximately 80 percent of households impacted by the
storm did not have flood insurance.
Don’t delay. Flood insurance policies can take up to 30 days to go into effect.
o Contact your homeowners insurance agent about purchasing a policy
o Visit FloodSmart.gov or call 1-800-427-4661 to learn more about flood insurance and to find an agent
in your area, if you don’t already have one
o And remember, most homeowners and renters insurance does not cover flood damage.
FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters.
Press Release Template
Title: [Company/Non-profit Organization] Partners with FEMA to Prepare [City/Community] Residents for
Hurricanes
CITY, STATE – [Company/Non-profit Organization] is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) during the next two weeks as part of a “National Level Exercise.” During this exercise, designed to help
FEMA and other federal partners, state and local governments, and the private sector fine-tune its disaster response
using a mock hurricane as the basis, [Company / Organization] is urging residents and business owners to also take
time to prepare for hurricane season.
Residents should assemble a go-bag: disaster supply kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, first aid supplies,
medications, and copies of critical information. They should also establish an evacuation route and make a family
communications plan. Visit Ready.gov/hurricanes for more information.
One of the most important steps homeowners can take today is to buy flood insurance, which allows individuals,
communities, and businesses to recover faster and more fully after a disaster. Most homeowners and renters
insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage.
Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster, with over 98 percent of counties in the United States
experiencing a flood. More than 20 percent of flood insurance claims are for properties that reside outside high risk
areas. In fact, during Hurricane Harvey, nearly half of all flood insurance claims in the Houston-area came from
homes outside of the high-risk flood area. Unfortunately, approximately 80 percent of households impacted by the
storm did not have flood insurance.
With flood insurance, residents can protect their homes, belongings, and their finances. Just one inch of water in a
home can cost more than $25,000 in damage.
“We join FEMA in urging you to act today so you can protect your family and home before disaster strikes,” said
[insert name, title and organization].
Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to go into effect. Don’t wait until disaster strikes to learn that you’re
not covered.
Visit FloodSmart.gov or call 1-800-427-4661 to learn more about flood insurance and to find an agent in your area.
FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters.
Social Media
You can’t control the weather, but you can prepare for it. Visit FloodSmart.gov to learn how you can protect
your home with flood insurance. #FloodSmart (Graphics #1-3)
Is your family prepared for #hurricane season? Be #FloodSmart and add buying flood insurance to your to-do
list this week. [check emoji] (Graphics #1-3)
In the event of a hurricane, there are many things that we do to prepare our homes. Help protect your wallet,
too, with a flood insurance policy: floodsmart.gov #FloodSmart (Graphics #1-3)
[3 emoji][0 emoji] days [calendar emoji]. That’s the typical number of days that it takes for #flood insurance
policies to take effect. Visit FloodSmart.gov to help protect you in the event of a disaster. #FloodSmart
(Graphic #8)
1 inch of flooding can result in >$25k in damage to your home. Protect the life you’ve built with flood
insurance: FloodSmart.gov #FloodSmart (Graphic #6)
In [City/Community], FEMA’s mock hurricane “National Level Exercise” is preparing communities for the
next storm. Make sure you’re prepared - visit FloodSmart.gov to purchase flood insurance today #FloodSmart
(Graphic #7)
You can’t control the weather, but you can prepare for it. Visit FloodSmart.gov to learn how you can protect
your home with flood insurance. #FloodSmart (Graphics #1-3)
Waiting until a disaster strikes is too late. Most flood insurance policies take 30 days to go into effect. To
learn more: 1-800-427-4661. #FloodSmart (Graphics #1-3)
In [City/Community], FEMA’s mock hurricane “National Level Exercise” is preparing communities for the
next major storm. Make sure you’re prepared - visit FloodSmart.gov to learn about flood insurance today
#FloodSmart (Graphics #1-3)
Just one inch of flooding can cost you more than $25,000. You can reduce the financial burden of flood
damage with a flood insurance policy. Visit FloodSmart.gov and get #FloodSmart. (Graphic #5)
What’s on your to-do list this week? Add getting #FloodSmart to that list. It’s as easy as calling your
insurance agent to find a policy that makes sense for you! (Graphic #9)
When preparing for a hurricane you take steps to protect your home against damage. Help protect your wallet,
too, with a flood insurance policy: FloodSmart.gov #FloodSmart (Graphic #9)
Graphics
Use the below graphics with the designated social media copy above.
Graphic #1
FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters.
Graphic #2
Graphic #3
Graphic #4
Graphic #5
FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters.
Graphic #6
Graphic #7
Graphic #8
Graphic #9
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FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters.
In or Out of the High-Risk Flood Area—Everyone Needs Flood Insurance
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, approximately 80 percent of households impacted by the storm did not have flood insurance.
Did you know?
Floods are the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster, causing billions of dollars in damage each year.
Homeowners and renters insurance does not typically cover flood damage.
Floods can happen anywhere. In fact, 98% of counties in the United States have experienced a flood and more than 20 percent of flood claims come from properties outside the high-risk flood zone.
If your property is in a low-to-moderate flood risk area, your flood insurance could be much more affordable than you might think.
Just one inch of water in an average-sized home can cost more than $25,000 in damage. You can recover faster and more fully after a disaster with flood insurance. Call your insurance agent and buy a policy today. As long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, you can buy flood insurance for your property. There’s typically a 30-day wait period between when you purchase the policy and when it becomes effective. Find questions to ask your agent to ensure you purchase the coverage you need at FloodSmart.gov.
Why Buy Flood Insurance April 2018
What You Need to Know About Disaster Assistance: You can submit a flood insurance claim even in the absence of a Presidential disaster declaration.
Most federal disaster assistance comes in the form of low-interest disaster loans from U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA).
A claim against your flood insurance policy could, and often does, provide more funds for recovery than those you could qualify for from FEMA or SBA after a Presidential disaster declaration.
FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters.
Flood insurance is essential for any homeowner, business owner, or renter. This fact sheet is intended to help property owners become flood smart and get important answers to questions about buying a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy. If your property is located in a community that participate in the NFIP, you can and should inquire about purchasing flood insurance. There’s typically a 30-day wait period between when you purchase the policy and when it becomes effective, so timing is very important. Call your insurance agent to discuss purchasing flood insurance. The agent who sold you your homeowners or renters insurance should be able to sell you a flood insurance policy. If not, you can find an agent by calling the NFIP Help Center, at 1-800-427-4661.
Helpful Questions to Ask your Insurance Agent:
Ask the right questions so you can buy the flood coverage you need: o Does my homeowners insurance cover flood? o What flood zone do I live in? What is my property’s flood risk? o What will and won’t be covered? o How much coverage should I purchase for my building and for my contents? o When will my policy become effective? o Will my policy provide Replacement Cost Value or Actual Cash Value—and what’s the difference
between the two? o Do I qualify for a Preferred Risk Policy (PRP)? o Does my community participate in the NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS)? If so, does my home
qualify for a CRS rating discount? o Is flood insurance mandatory for my property? Will the lender require it? o Are there additional expenses or agency fees? o How can I pay for my policy? o How do I renew my policy?
Visit FloodSmart.gov to learn more about “How to Buy” and information about the following:
o Steps you can take to reduce the cost of your flood insurance. o Information about coverage and deductibles. o Exceptions that may allow your NFIP coverage to go into effect immediately.
How to Buy Flood Insurance April 2018