WHY HAVE A FREEBOARD?

THERE ARE MANY GOOD REASONS TO ENFORCE

ADDITIONAL ELEVATION (MARGIN OF SAFETY)

2

WHY HAVE A FREEBOARD?

INSURANCE SAVINGSA SINGLE FAMILY HOME, ONE FLOOR, NO

BASEMENT WITH $200,000/$50,000 COVERAGE:

• AT BFE (0 FEET) = $902

• 1 FOOT ABOVE = $605

• 2 FEET ABOVE = $428

• 3 FEET ABOVE = $388

3

WHY HAVE A FREEBOARD?

PROTECT PROPERTY FROM FLOOD DAMAGE

• SEA LEVEL RISE – UP TO 3 FEET NEXT 100 YEARS

• LAND SUBSIDENCE• MORE FREQUENT STORMS• MORE SEVERE STORMS LIKE ISABEL

4

WHY HAVE A FREEBOARD?

PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM DISRUPTION

• MANY PEOPLE STILL OUT OF THEIR HOMES

• PEOPLE STILL WAITING FOR ASSISTANCE• FLOOD INSURANCE DOES NOT PAY FOR

ALL

5

WHY HAVE A FREEBOARD?

FREEDOM FROM WORRY

• UNELEVATED HOMEOWNERS WORRY ABOUT WHAT NEXT FLOOD WILL DO TO THEM

• OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES MAY OVERWHELM HOMEOWNER (ESPECIALLY IF NO FLOOD INSURANCE)

• MANY BELONGINGS MAY BE IRREPLACEABLE• DISASTERS ARE STRESSFULL IN PROPORTION TO

THE EFFECT ON THE INDIVIDUAL

6

WHY HAVE A FREEBOARD?

FURTHER PREMIUM SAVINGS FROM PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY

RATING SYSTEM

• COMMUNITY GETS 100 POINTS FOR EVERY FOOT OF FREEBOARD

• 500 POINTS = 5% REDUCTION IN PREMIUM• MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES ELIGIBLE FOR

POINTS

7

WHY HAVE A FREEBOARD?

REDUCTION IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE DURING A DISASTER

• PEOPLE SAFER IN THEIR HOMES• IF EVACUATED, CAN RETURN SOONER• PERSONAL PROPERTY MORE PROTECTED

8

WHY HAVE A FREEBOARD?

ELEVATION OF DUCTWORK

• NFIP REQUIRES THAT DUCTWORK BE ELEVATED TO OR ABOVE BFE

• DUCTWORK NORMALLY INSTALLED UNDER FLOOR JOISTS

• FORCES TOP OF FLOOR UP ALMOST 2 FEET• FREEBOARD CAN APPLY TO TOP OF

FLOOR

9

WHY HAVE A FREEBOARD?

ADDITIONAL COST TO ELEVATE 2-3 FEET ABOVE BFE CAN BE RECOVERED QUICKLY THROUGH

SAVINGS IN FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUMS

• ESTIMATED COST TO LAY 2-3 COURSES OF BLOCK = $1000 - $1800

• MAXIMUM FLOOD INSURANCE SAVINGS PER YEAR = $514

• TIME TO RECOUP ADDITIONAL EXPENSE = ABOUT 3 YEARS

• FLOOD INSURANCE WILL BE MORE COSTLY IN FUTURE

10

Summary Slide

WHY HAVE A FREEBOARD?

• PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY• SAVINGS OVER LONGER TERM• FREEDOM FROM DISRUPTION• FREEDOM FROM WORRY• REDUCE EMERGENCY RESPONSE