Repetitive Flood Loss Definition and Mitigation

What is Repetitive Loss?

NFIP Repetitive Loss Definition An NFIP-insured structure that has had at least 2 paid flood losses of more than $1,000 each in any 10-year period since 1978.  

NFIP Severe Repetitive Loss Definition Any building that is covered under a Standard Flood Insurance Policy and has incurred flood damage for which:

a. Four or more separate claim payments have been made under a Standard Flood Insurance Policy, with the amount of each such claim exceeding $5,000, and with the cumulative amount of such claims payments exceeding $20,000; or

b. At least 2 separate claims payments have been made under a Standard Flood Insurance Policy, with the cumulative amount of such claim payments exceed the fair market value of the insured building on the day before each loss.

Severe Repetitive Loss Property.  Either a severe repetitive loss building or the contents within a severe repetitive loss building, or both.

 

 

Mitigating Repetitive Loss

Repetitive loss and severe repetitive properties are a mitigation priority for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and FEMA. 

FEMA provides funds to state and local governments to make offers of assistance to NFIP-insured residential property owners for mitigation projects that reduce future flood losses through:

• Acquisition or relocation of at-risk structures and conversion of the property to open space

• Elevation of existing structures

• Dry floodproofing of historic properties

Of the mitigated repetitive loss and severe repetitive properties within the Commonwealth, acquisition and demolition is the most popular method of mitigation. 

A breakdown of the mitigation methods previously employed by communities in Kentucky includes the following (in order of mitigation type most used):  

  • building acquired and or demolished
  • building flood protection provided
  • building protected by a flood control/stormwater management project
  • building elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
  • properties replaced by a new elevated/floodproofed building
  • buildings replaced by a new elevated/floodproofed building
  • building moved out of the floodplain
  • building elevated but not to the BFE 
  • non-residential building floodproofed to the BFE

Link to the 2018 Kentucky Repetitive Loss Assessment for an overview of the Kentucky repetitive loss strategy and locations maps of Kentucky’s repetitive loss.

Add a Repetitive Loss Provision to Local Floodplain Management Regulations

Link to:  Build Resilience: Add a Repetitive Loss Provision to Local Floodplain Management Regulations Fact Sheet

Making Corrections to the Repetitive Loss List

Making Corrections to the Repetitive Loss List is a one-page CRS handout that describes the new procedure communities submit to FEMA corrections to the repetitive loss list, using the Repetitive Loss Update Worksheet, also known as the AW-501.

CRS communities use this form to submit corrections and updates to the list of repetitive flood loss properties within their jurisdictions.

 

 

Rep Loss Mitigation Example

Falmouth, KY – Rising Above the Floods – Falmouth Flood of 1997 and Beyond…Then and Now

Presented by Brian Thompson and Mike Moore

  • 5 people killed
  • 1000 people lost their
    homes
  • $50 Million in damage
  • The City received a $3 million grant through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to
    acquire 83 lots.

Link to Falmouth, KY – Rising Above the Floods.

 

Mitigation Matters!  

Have questions, contact us at help@kymitigation.org.

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