FEMA Honors Private Sector Partners For Special Flood Insurance Achievements
Release Date: June 1, 2001
Release Number: HQ-01-049
Washington, DC -- The Federal Insurance Administration (FIA), a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has recognized several outstanding insurance and lending industry partners with special awards for their contributions to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Acting FIA Administrator Howard Leikin presented the awards at the annual National Flood Conference held May 22-25 in Minneapolis, Minn., attended by 700 representatives of the banking and insurance industries, flood zone determination companies, realtors, local and state officials, and officials of FEMA. This year's conference focused on risk communication, community floodplain management, lender compliance, current and pending legislation affecting flood insurance and flood mitigation, and the use of existing and future technology to increase policy growth and retention.
The following awards honored the FIA's private sector partners for their accomplishments in promoting federal flood insurance:
The Agency of the Year Award was given to three insurance agencies for their intensive marketing strategies, superior policy growth, adherence to established underwriting guidelines, and participation in flood-awareness activities. The winners were AAA Insurance Agency of Tampa, Fla.; Eagan Insurance Agency, Inc. of Metairie, La.; and Insurance Brokers & Managers, Inc. of New Orleans, La.
The Administrator's Club Award goes to those companies selling and servicing federally backed flood insurance that have achieved significant growth in new policies. The company with the highest percentage of growth and more than 2,000 new policies is also recognized with a trophy. This year's winners were Hartford Fire Insurance Co., Hartford, Conn.; Fire Insurance Exchange, Los Angeles, Calif. (Administrator's Cup Winner); United Surety and Indemnity Co., Guaynabo, P.R.; Arie Insurance Co., North Miami, Fla.; and Florida Select Insurance Co., Sarasota, Fla.
The Administrator's Quill Award recognizes the highest percentage of overall growth among the largest Write Your Own companies. The winner was Fire Insurance Exchange, Los Angeles, Calif.
Winners of the Public Awareness Materials Contest were selected by the conference participants after viewing all the materials on display. The winners were American Bankers, Scottsdale, Ariz. (training material); Bankers Insurance Group, St. Petersburg, Fla. (web site); State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Ill. (printed marketing material); and Omaha Property & Casualty, Omaha, Neb. (advertising material).
The Roy T. Short Memorial Award is given to an "innovative and inspiring" person who has rendered the best service to lenders in complying with federal flood insurance regulations, presented in memory of the former vice president of Bank United and of the National Lenders' Insurance Council. This year's recipient was Robert Ross, Jr. of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents in Tallahassee, Fla.
The NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance available in communities that adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations to reduce future flood damage. Nationwide, more than 4.2 million policies are in force in over 19,000 participating communities, representing more than $557 billion worth of coverage. The NFIP is a self-supporting program; claims and operating expenses are paid from policyholder premiums, not tax dollars. In the 32-year history of the NFIP, it has paid $10.4 billion in claims for flood losses.
Last Modified: Thursday, 16-Oct-2003 13:57:23