Test your knowledge – National vs. Private

The third most damaging hurricane in US history is the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. A Category 4 storm, it caused $20 million ($78 million by today’s standards) in damages and killed roughly 8,000 people. 

It made landfall in Galveston, TX on September 8, 1900. Disasters like this are why we have the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private market options, but what is the difference? 

The NFIP is funded and backed by the federal government. In contrast, private carriers are independent. They do not have to abide by FEMA policy requirements and can more accurately generate a premium that reflects flooding risks to each unique property.