Prior to Tuesday's reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), PIA expressed disappointment with the program's lapse in the press and conducted a nationwide Grassroots Action campaign. 

PIA issued press releases, participated in media interviews and conducted a nationwide grassroots campaign that generated more than 1,000 messages to Congress. 

Congress has been extending the flood insurance program for short intervals over the past two years. Efforts to enact comprehensive reforms to the NFIP have been stymied in recent years over two issues: proposals to add coverage for wind damage to the flood program and forgiving the nearly $20 billion debt amassed by the program as a result of catastrophic storms in 2004 and 2005. PIA opposes inclusion of wind coverage in the NFIP program and supports debt forgiveness.

Below is a sampling of press coverage in which PIA was quoted during the two days that the NFIP had lapsed:

Flood Insurance Program Lapses (PIA comments) (National Underwriter 3/1/10)

Flood Insurance Program Closed (PIA comments) (Insurance Journal 3/1/10)

NFIP Stall Hits Agents Hard, Consumers Harder (American Agent & Broker 3/2/10)

PIA Decries Lapse in Flood Program (FOX Business 3/1/10)

NFIP on Hiatus; Insurers, Agents Concerned (BestWire 3/1/10)

Flood Insurance Shut For Now (Orange County CA Register 3/1/10)

PIA Decries Lapse in Flood Insurance Program (PIA press release 3/1/10)

Senate Approves U.S. Flood Program After Delay (National Underwriter 3/3/10)

March 4, 2010