Flood Insurance

If you do not have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent. Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. You do not have to reside in the floodplain to obtain flood insurance. In fact it can be purchased at a significantly reduced cost if you do not reside in the floodplain. Because of our floodplain management programs that attempt to protect us from the multiple flooding hazards, Carpentersville is part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and thus, residents are able to obtain flood insurance. Additionally, because the Village participates in FEMA’s CRS program, flood insurance premiums are discounted.

Be sure to check your policy to ensure you have adequate coverage. Usually these policies cover the building structure, but not the contents. Contents coverage can also be obtained by asking. There is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance coverage becomes effective. Plan ahead; do not wait until a flood is predicted before purchasing flood insurance.

If you are building inside the floodplain, the purchase of flood insurance is mandatory if using a federally regulated/insured bank for a loan.

Receive a Discount on Your Flood Insurance

Most residents with flood insurance automatically receive a discount on their insurance premiums. The Village participates in the Community Rating System (CRS) which is a program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in which residents living in the Special Flood Hazard Area receive a 20% discount on flood insurance premiums and residents not living in the Special Flood Hazard Area a 10% discount on flood insurance premiums. Carpentersville participated in a series of floodplain management activities in order to qualify for the CRS discount. 

The best part is there is no need to do anything to receive this discount. The Village has already done everything for you. Your insurance agent is notified through a national database and will automatically deduct the appropriate amount from your flood insurance premium. As part of the CRS program the Village offers the following information on request:

• Whether a property is in or out of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SPHA) as shown on the current Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) of the Village.
• Additional flood insurance data for a site, such as the FIRM zone and the base flood elevation or depth, if shown on the FIRM.
• A handout on the flood insurance purchase requirement that can help people who need a mortgage or loan for a property in the SFHA.
• Elevation certificates are available as of January 1, 2005.

Inquire

Direct inquiries should be made to the Engineering Department in Village Hall. Please supply the street address and, if available, the subdivision, lot and block number. There is no charge for this service. There are mandatory flood insurance requirements for development in the floodplain, but for some homeowners flood insurance is an option. 

Flood insurance is highly recommended because no floodproofing measure is 100% foolproof. Please take time to contact your insurance carrier and consider flood insurance for your home. 

Additional Resources

For more information on the Federal Emergency Management Agency and flood safety, please visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency website or National Flood Insurance Program website.