20 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2017 FEATURE While federally regulated lenders are typically aware of the requirement under the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 19731 (the “Act”) to obtain flood certifications upon making a loan, lenders failing to update flood certifications when they increase, modify or renew a loan may find their collateral and loans underwater. Background With floods being the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States,2 the Act requires lenders to obtain flood certification for loans secured by improved real estate or a mobile home stating the flood zone status of the property.3 The Federal Emergency Management Agency designates flood zones based on a Flood Insurance Study.4 FEMA updates the study annually, but not comprehensively.5 FEMA prioritizes locations where real estate development is greatest, and where the maps are most outdated.6 Map updates also may be initiated by affected communities.7 Thus, a lender cannot assume that a particular flood designation has remained unchanged over the life of a loan. If any part of the improved real estate or mobile home lies in a flood hazard area, then the entire structure must be covered by flood insurance.8 Lenders must document their flood hazard results using FEMA’s form and retain a copy throughout the term of the loan.9 If property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the borrower must obtain flood insurance through either the National Flood Insurance Program or private flood insurance.10 Best Practices Lenders should implement monitoring and tracking systems to prevent uninsured flood loss throughout the term of the loan, from inception to any increases, renewals or extensions. A best practice, commonly followed, is to monitor the expiration dates of flood policies; to provide required notices to borrowers; and to force place insurance, if necessary.11 Another best practice, but not as commonly followed, is to periodically review updates to the flood maps for the life of the loan. Many lenders file away the flood certification, then forget about it. Although lenders generally are not required to monitor flood maps on existing loans, if the lender increases, extends or renews the loan, or has knowledge or reason to know of the need for flood insurance coverage, then the lender must review or renew its flood certification and cannot automatically rely on the original flood determination, unless three conditions are satisfied: 1. The prior determination was made within seven years of the new transaction; 2. FEMA has not updated the applicable flood map since the lender’s original determination; and 3. The Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form reflects the basis of the determination.12 Even if a prior determination is less than seven years old, a lender still must check to see if the flood map Covering Your Losses With flood certifications Lori Jean Partner Krieg DeVault LLP ljean@kdlegal.com Krieg DeVault LLP is a Diamond Associate Member of the Indiana Bankers Association. Article author
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