The Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance National Awareness Campaign

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

In response to reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program, a eight South Louisiana parishes formed the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance. In just six months, the Coalition grew to include 35 states and 205 organizations including several national associations. The program had one major objective: to increase the national awareness of the changes made to the NFIP so that communities and homeowners could prepare and reduce the impacts on themselves and their community. This would involve educating stakeholders on the process of mapping flood risk, improving the resilience of a home and community, and the flood insurance premium rate structure and how its financial impact. This program kept hundreds of thousands of Americans in their homes, increased the awareness of a vital government program, and improved the communication and cross-education of local and regional governments across the nation. Through organizations across America, the Coalition was able to increase the grassroots participation of thousands of citizens to educate themselves and their neighbors about their flood risk, NFIP reforms, and the impacts of flood mapping on their community’s economic future. The Core group of South Louisiana Parishes included: St. Charles, Jefferson, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Tammany, St. John, St. James, St. Mary, Orleans, St Bernard, and Plaquemines.