FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2017

Commissioner Donelon Requests Extension of NFIP Proof of Loss Deadline Related to the August Flood

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to further extend the filing deadline for Louisiana policyholders impacted by the August flood. FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires homeowners to file a Proof of Loss form to claim damages within 60 days of a flood. Governor John Bel Edwards supported the request for the extension which would allow NFIP policyholders at least a year from the date of their loss.

“I know that many of the affected policyholders are still actively engaged in the rebuilding process and in addition to contractor challenges have experienced a significant increase in the cost of labor and materials since last August,” wrote Commissioner Donelon in his letter to FEMA. “As a result, a great number of those affected policyholders will not be able to file the required Proof of Loss or Supplemental Proof of Loss by the looming May 12 deadline.”

The Proof of Loss is a sworn statement of the amount a policyholder is claiming including necessary supporting documentation. The form must contain the specific details required by the Standard Flood Insurance Policy. This document substantiates the insurance claim and is required before the NFIP can make payment. To read Commissioner Donelon’s letter requesting an extension of the deadline for Proof of Loss forms, please click here.

About the Louisiana Department of Insurance: The Louisiana Department of Insurance works to improve competition in the state’s insurance market while assisting individuals and businesses with the information and resources they need to be informed consumers of insurance. As a regulator, the LDI enforces the laws that provide a fair and stable marketplace and makes certain that insurers comply with the laws in place to protect policyholders. You can contact the LDI by calling 1-800-259-5300 or visiting www.ldi.la.gov.