Did you know? Hurricanes, winter storms, and snowmelt are common (but often overlooked) causes of flooding.    You may be eligible to purchase flood insurance as long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program.    It takes 30 days after purchase for most flood policies to take effect, so it's important to buy insurance before the floodwaters rise.    Recent NFIP statistics show about 25% of all claims paid by the NFIP are for policies in moderate-to-low risk communities.    When your community participates in the Community Rating System (CRS), you can qualify for an insurance premium discount of up to 45%.