| Troubleshooting
Obtain a First American Second Opinion. You may want a second opinion if your agent says your home or building does not qualify for a low-cost, Preferred Risk flood insurance policy. SAFCA has partnered with First American Flood Data Services to create this option for Sacramento property owners.
For a nominal fee, property owners who visit the First American website, www.floodinfo.com, can enter their street address and obtain a non-binding flood risk analysis of their property. (SAFCA receives no money for this service or from its partnership with First American.)
Property owners who use this service can print out the flood risk analysis and provide it to their insurance agent. The analysis is based on the most recent available flood map data for the Sacramento region and includes a flood map effective date. This date is significant.
If the effective date of the agent’s flood map is older than the effective date on your First American analysis, your agent may be using obsolete information to evaluate the flood risk to your property. This could prevent you from qualifying for a low-cost Preferred Risk Policy.
If the effective dates differ, you might suggest that your agent report this to his or her underwriting department or contact SAFCA or the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities to verify the current flood map effective date for the South Area of Sacramento.
Property owners also can furnish their lender with the First American flood risk analysis to document the current flood zone for the property owner’s home or building. Under Federal rules, flood insurance is not required for property that is located in a B, C or X flood zone. If you attempt to cancel your flood insurance and your lender maintains that your property is still subject to the Federal flood insurance requirement, the First American analysis may help to persuade your lender that your property has been released from this requirement. However, keep in mind: Federal law allows lenders to require flood insurance regardless of your flood zone.
What to Do If Your Flood Insurance Policy Is About to Expire. FEMA advises property owners not to let their current flood insurance coverage expire, even if their agent is having difficulty converting it to a Preferred Risk Policy. Under Federal rules, property owners who renew their Standard flood insurance policy after their property has been released from the Federal flood insurance requirement will receive a full refund of their current flood insurance premium shortly after converting to a PRP. However, property owners who allow their current flood insurance policy to lapse before converting to a PRP will not qualify for a flood insurance premium refund of any kind.
For More Information:
- Visit the First American Flood Data Services Website: For a flood risk analysis of your property or a “second opinion” flood zone determination, visit the First American Flood Data Services website at www.floodinfo.com.
- Contact the City of Sacramento: If you live within the City limits and have questions about whether your property is still subject to the Federal flood insurance requirement, please contact the City of Sacramento’s Floodplain Information Line at (916) 808-5061.
- Contact Sacramento County: If your property is located in the unincorporated area of Sacramento County and have questions about whether your property is still subject to the Federal flood insurance requirement, please call the County’s Flood Zone Information Hotline at (916) 874-7517.
- Contact the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency: If you have questions about levee improvements to the Sacramento region or general questions about flood insurance, please contact SAFCA at (916) 874-7606.
- Visit the National Flood Insurance Program’s website at www.floodsmart.gov
- Contact an Insurance Agent: If you would like to apply for a Preferred .Risk flood insurance policy, please contact an insurance agent.
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