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 41 - 50 of 89
No Direct Physical Loss Decision Upheld Ceramic Tiles
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss for ceramic floor tiles. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
ceramic tiles
Download Memo
No Direct Physical Loss Decision Upheld Foundation Walls
The policyholder appeals the denial of no direct physical loss to the foundation, basement walls, window, and interior finishes. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
flood loss
Download Memo
No Direct Physical Loss Decision Upheld Garage Doors
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss to their garage doors. (Coverage, Scope)
  • Coverage
  • Scope
garage
Download Memo
No Direct Physical Loss Decision Upheld Garage, Flooring, Powerwalls
The policyholders appeal the denial for no direct physical loss of tile flooring, structural damages to the detached garage, and the Tesla Powerwalls. (Coverage, scope, price)
  • Coverage
  • Price
  • Scope
garage
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No Direct Physical Loss Decision Upheld Interior Finishes
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss to interior finishes and seeks policy limits. (Scope)
  • Scope
flooding
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No Direct Physical Loss Decision Upheld Kitchen Cabinets
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss to their upper kitchen cabinets. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
flooding
Download Memo
No Direct Physical Loss Decision Upheld Prior Flood
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss building items damaged in a prior flood. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
Download Memo
No Direct Physical Loss Decision Upheld Stucco
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss to their stucco. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
flooding
Download Memo
No Direct Physical Loss Decision Upheld Travertine Tile Flooring
The policyholder appeals the denial for no direct physical loss for ceramic floor tiles. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
Download Memo
No Direct Physical Loss Detached Garage Decision Upheld
The policyholder appeals the denial for a non-covered building. (Coverage)
  • Coverage
detached garage
Download Memo

Related Resources

Understanding Coverage Decisions (New)