Hurricane Helene

If you have flood insurance from FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program and experienced flooding during Hurricane Helene, visit How Do I Start My Claim to learn more about how to file your flood insurance claim. Further details on FEMA operations can be found on the following links: https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-helene Spanish: https://www.fema.gov/es/helene 

Understanding Coverage Decisions

This is a collection of FEMA decisions in response to NFIP policyholders who have appealed their flood insurer's denial. These documents are provided to claim professionals, as well as current and future policyholders for use to better understand flood policy coverage, claim requirements, and why claims get denied or overturned. 

Flood Claim Decision Memos

Please use the features below to search the collection. You may sort by appeal issue, which is based on a common subject ‘tagwords’, decision type, or based on type decision rule, which are categorized on the hierarchy of insurance policy rules on (1) eligibility, (2) coverage, (3) scope of damage, and (4) price or scope to repair. FEMA will periodically add new decisions to its collection over time. 

Displaying 11 - 20 of 89
Earth Movement Decision Upheld
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss due to earth movement. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
earth movement
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Earth Movement Decision Upheld
The policyholder appeals the denial for damage to their front porch due to earth movement. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
Earth Movement
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Earth Movement Decision Upheld
The policyholder appeals the denial for structural and foundation damages due to earth movement. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
earth movement
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Earth Movement Decision Upheld
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss due to earth movement. (Coverage.)
  • Coverage
earth movement
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Earth Movement Direct Physical Loss Decision Upheld
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss to the foundation due to earth movement (Coverage).
  • Coverage
earth movement
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Earth Movement Overturn
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss by or from flood because the flood was constrained to the river's banks, well below the described location. (Eligibility. Scope.)
  • Eligibility
  • Scope
house with mud
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Elevated Post FIRM Decision Upheld
The policyholder appeals the denial for elevated post-FIRM limitations and coverage for their elevator. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
flood loss
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Elevated post-FIRM Building Coverage Limitations Decision Overturned
The policyholder appeals the denial due to post-FIRM elevated building restrictions. (Coverage.)
  • Coverage
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Elevated Post-FIRM Building Coverage Limitations Decision Upheld
The policyholder appeals the denial due to post-FIRM elevated building restrictions. (Coverage.)
  • Coverage
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Elevated Post-FIRM Building Coverage Limitations Staircase Wall Decision Overturned
The policyholder appeals the denial of the staircase pony wall.(Coverage.)
  • Coverage
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Related Resources

Understanding Coverage Decisions (New)