SRMC Fall Conference 2012 Jim Mahurin You’re All Wet! SRMC Fall Conference 2012 Jim Mahurin

RULES Primary flood coverage source is federal Property eligibility is fixed “Building” is a defined term Personal Property eligibility is limited

More Rules Definitions apply to eligibility “Building” includes structures with permanent walls from the floor to ceiling that have no openings – but share a common ceiling Apartments with common roof and solid walls in stairwell eligible for multiple policies on one structure

Private Flood Very limited number of private flood providers Federal program drives coverage provided by private market The majority will not entertain property within, OR IN PROXIMITY TO flood Zone A

Very Important Slide __________________________ Flood Zone A boundary One percent (1%) probability measure A MEASURE OF THE WATERSHED – NOT DEPTH

Very Important Slide ___________________________ Base Food Elevation One percent (1%) probability measure

Very Important Slide _____________________________ BFE is 1% measure -- 100 year flood zone ______________________________ One (1) foot below BFE is 25 to 40 year zone Two (2) feet below BFE is 10 – 20 year zone

Average Flood Damage Water touches base of building 19% Water one foot inside building 22% Water two feet inside building 31% Water six feet inside building 80%

Federal Flood Is Inadequate Homes – Dwelling $250,000 Contents $100,000 Commercial – Building $500,000 Contents $500,000 Business Income - $ Zero

Private Flood Expressly exclude all Zone A property Primary coverage with modest deductible applying to all other property Follow coverage terms of NFIP policies

Private Flood 2 Expressly exclude all Zone A and B property Primary coverage with modest deductible applying to all other property

Private Flood 3 Excess Flood over Zone A NFIP maximum limits WITH MANDATE FOR PRIMARY COVERAGE Primary flood with modest deductible applying to all other property

Private Flood 4 Excess Flood over Zone A NFIP maximum limits with no requirement to maintain underlying Primary flood with modest deductible applying to all other property Replacement Cost/Business Interruption, etc.

Primary Flood 5 Excess Flood over Zone A NFIP maximum limits $1,000,000 (or other modest sublimit) over all property within 1,000 feet of Zone A (or all property in Zone B) The sublimit applying to 1,000 feet (or Zone B) isn’t disclosed

Private Flood 6 Sublimit available is often modest Business interruption is not freely available Many Excess Flood policies exclude Debris Removal – a major cost item

Rules Revisited Remember the solid floor to ceiling rule Many buildings have these walls – or you can make them Allows purchase of multiple NFIP policies on structure

Private Flood Revisited Inland Marine can be used to provide primary coverage: Computers Valuable Papers Mobile Equipment Antiques/Art/Wine/Guns/Sporting eqpt., etc

Flood Damage Reduction Minimal elevation is a major reduction in exposure. Elevated entire floor in warehouse. Elevate high valued property, i.e., computers, power distribution, nice offices, etc. Establish plans to move vehicles and equipment

Private Excess Flood Market Very few companies providing coverage by late 1990’s. Primary major market excess flood carrier underwriting requirements were very strict by 1997. Market tightened again following five major hurricanes in 2003 and 2004. Hurricane Katrina occurred in 2005.

Private Excess Flood Market Very small number of providers with Excess Flood in Zone A – as sublimit to property program. Smaller number of Excess Flood providers of stand alone coverage Significant percentage were marginal carriers.

Flood Determination Letters Electronic Flood Determination Letters have a very high error rate. High percentage of buildings located in boundary areas of Zone A are identified as Zone B or Zone C property. Excess Flood policies voided if misclassification is found in application.

Substantial Damage Buildings damaged by flood to 50% of their market value must be elevated