What are the consequences for a community that is suspended from the NFIP?

When a community is suspended from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), it means that participation in the program has ended due to non-compliance with NFIP regulations. As a result, the community and its residents no longer have access to federally backed flood insurance. This is critical because without the NFIP, property owners cannot purchase flood insurance policies that protect them from financial losses due to flood damage.

Furthermore, the suspension also affects the community's ability to participate in disaster assistance programs, as these often correlate with the availability of flood insurance. Thus, the absence of flood insurance creates significant financial risks for homeowners, particularly in flood-prone areas. While there might be existing policies that could be renewed, no new policies can be issued during a suspension, which heightens the overall risk for residents.

Therefore, the consequence of no flood insurance availability is the most impactful and underscores the importance of compliance with NFIP requirements for communities to ensure their residents are protected.