DAVIDSON COUNTY, TN – After a May 2010 flood, Harding and Jona Brewster learned that their home in Old Hickory, Tennessee, was not in compliance with the Metro-Nashville-Davidson County flood ordinances. It took careful review of the Brewsters’ flood insurance policy to determine if any funding was available to assist in rebuilding their home.
“We did not want to move,” Brewster said.
Any flood damaged property in a floodplain must be in compliance with the local, state, and community ordinances before repairs can be made. Without a flood insurance policy, the property owner will suffer all costs of restoration in addition to those necessary to meet new building requirements.
Although the Brewsters received money from their flood insurance claim for the damage, the funds were not enough to bring their home up to code. Many homeowners are unaware that homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers flood insurance, or protection against flood risks, to renters and property owners in NFIP-participating communities.
“So, after reading up on my options, I decided to have my house elevated,” Brewster said.
According to Metro-Nashville-Davidson County flood ordinances, the lowest floor, or finished floor of the Brewsters’ home had to be 4 feet above the base flood elevation (BFE). Their home was determined to be between 1.5 and 2 feet below the BFE and, therefore, they had to elevate their home nearly 6 feet in order to comply with standards.
Elevation, one of many mitigation methods, helps homeowners reduce and sometimes avoid major flood risks. Elevation also lowers flood insurance premiums for those with flood insurance coverage. There are three additional options available to property owners, other than elevation, under NFIP coverage: relocation, demolition, and floodproofing (dry floodproofing for non-residential buildings only). These mitigation measures help property owners come into compliance with local ordinances while reducing future damage.
The money the Brewsters received from the flood insurance claim was not enough to hire a contractor and repair their floodravaged home. However, through more research, they learned about NFIP’s Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage.
ICC coverage is available to property owners with flood insurance in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), or high-risk areas. ICC allows property owners to file a claim for additional funds (up to $30,000) in order to cover remaining costs of a mitigation measure. All four compliance options are covered under ICC funding but, in order to be eligible, a building must either be deemed as substantially damaged or considered to be a repetitive loss structure. In the Brewsters’ case, they had to prove their home was substantially damaged to qualify for ICC coverage.
“I had to be very specific with the insurance company,” Brewster said. “It was very difficult, but if somebody utilizes all the services that are being offered – Metro, FEMA, church groups, volunteer groups, etc. – I think the process would be easy.”
Once the Brewsters received a letter of substantial damage from their local floodplain manager, they submitted it to their insurance company and their home was successfully elevated. Now they can continue repairs on their home with reassurance that they will be better prepared for future flood events.
“The neighbors told me, ‘If it ever floods again, you’re gonna’ have a house full of people,’” Brewster says with a laugh. “It’s gonna’ be a better house than it was before…a lot safer.”