Arden Village becomes 49th community in Delaware to participate in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program
DOVER – The Village of Arden in New Castle County has become the latest Delaware community to participate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program, with flood insurance now available to property owners in the Village, DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship announced today.
DNREC’s Flood Management Program assisted New Castle County in submitting the Village of Arden’s application to join the national flood insurance program and become the 49th community in the state to participate in the program. The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the village’s application to participate March 11.
With DNREC Flood Management Program guidance for getting NFIP coverage, the Village of Arden adopted floodplain regulations that contain many of the higher standards that were recommended by Senate Bill 64. The community will now require 18 inches of freeboard for all new construction and substantially improved structures.
FEMA’s flood insurance rate maps indicate where the floodplain boundaries are located and the areas of greatest flood risk. Delaware residents can find the maps on DNREC’s website at maps.dnrec.delaware.gov/navmap/.
Lenders must require borrowers whose properties are located in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) to purchase flood insurance as a condition of receiving a federally- backed mortgage loan in accordance with the Federal Disaster Protection Act of 1973. Property owners not located within an SFHA can voluntarily purchase flood insurance from any agent or broker licensed to do business in Delaware. There is generally a 30-day waiting period before a newly-purchased flood insurance policy goes into effect. DNREC’s Flood Management Program advises that you contact your insurance company for any exceptions to this policy.
Residents of the Village of Arden will be able to purchase flood insurance up to the limits under the regular phase of the program. For single family dwellings, the standard policy building coverage limit is $250,000, and the contents coverage limit is $100,000.
FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program boats more than 5.5 million flood insurance policies in more than 22,000 participating communities nationwide.
Media Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902
Vol. 46, No. 86