New FEMA digital tool help residents purchase flood insurance

DENTON — Coastal and flood-prone Texas residents can now purchase federal flood insurance policies online through a new digital tool released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the agency announced in a release on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The self-service option, available at Floodsmart.gov, streamlines the buying process for residents living in participating National Flood Insurance Program communities across Texas and the surrounding region, according to the release. Users can enter basic information about their home or building to generate an instant quote, then complete the purchase online or transfer the details to a licensed insurance agent.

For low-lying Texas coastal communities, the streamlined access aims to close coverage gaps before disaster strikes, the release stated. Floods remain the nation's costliest and most frequent natural disaster.

"We are making it easier for people to reduce their financial risk and protect what they've spent their lives building," FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton said in a statement.

According to the release, Texas currently holds nearly $170 billion in flood coverage across approximately 553,000 active policies, making up a significant portion of FEMA Region 6's portfolio.

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