Louisiana and Mississippi Policyholders Have Additional 60 Days to Submit NFIP Proofs of Loss

On March 7, 2016 through March 19, 2016, severe winter storms affected Louisiana and Mississippi. For those policyholders with flood losses, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires a policyholder to send the insurer a complete, signed and sworn-to-proof of loss within 60 days after the date of loss.

On April 21, 2016, David I. Maurstad, Assistant Administrator for Federal Insurance, Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) issued Bulletin W-16028 that extended the Proof of Loss deadline for an additional 60 days to ensure that NFIP policyholders have sufficient time to submit their signed and sworn to proof of loss form to their NFIP insurer.

The bulletin states, in part:

In many instances, access to NFIP-insured buildings is not possible due to damage to the infrastructure and high water. These conditions may delay the claims process for many NFIP policyholders, and NFIP policyholders may encounter difficulties filing a timely proof of loss for claims arising from this event.

Because of this extension, NFIP policyholders will have a total of 120 days after the date of loss to provide the completed, signed, and sworn-to proof of loss to the insurer. As a reminder to New Jersey residents, last month I blogged about the 30-day extension that FEMA has granted for NFIP policyholders with claims for damage arising from Winter Storm Jonas.

If you would like more information about requirements for NFIP proofs of loss, be sure to check out these blogs:

• National Flood Proof of Loss Deadline on Monday – Are You Sure the Proof is Right?
• Insurance Policy Attorney, Proofs of Loss Actual Cash Value and Contents
• Multiple Proofs of Loss May Be Required in Flood Claims