What 1968 U.S. program provides federally backed flood insurance to participating communities?

The National Flood Insurance Program provides federally backed flood insurance to participating communities in the United States. Congress created the program in 1968 after repeated floods exposed the limits of private flood coverage.

The program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It works with communities that adopt and enforce floodplain-management standards, while eligible property owners can obtain flood policies through the program and participating insurers.

The NFIP is often confused with ordinary homeowners insurance. Standard homeowners policies generally do not cover flood damage, so flood protection requires a separate policy or another specialized arrangement. The program also differs from federal crop insurance, which protects agricultural production.

Flood maps, premiums, claims, and disaster policy have all made the NFIP a continuing subject of public debate. Its central purpose, however, remains consistent: make flood insurance available where private markets may not offer affordable or broad coverage.