FEMA Accessible: Understanding Mudflows and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

FEMA video in American Sign Language (ASL) about understanding what a mudflow is and what the National Flood Insurance Program's Standard Flood Insurance Policy covers and does not cover.
Closed captioning is available in English, Chinese, German, Hindi, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese.
[Transcript:]
Mudflows can often happen after a wildfire, and they destroy trees that support and strengthen hillsides. Mudflows can happen very quickly with little to no warning, destroying your property you have worked very hard to build and protect.
When Congress authorized the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), they made sure NFIP included mudflows under their insurance coverage.
Here are some important things you should learn and know about mudflows:
The Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) defines a flood as one of the following:
1. If two or more acres of dry land or two or more properties (one of those properties must be yours) has been partially or completely overflowed by water or mudflow.
2. If water from a river, lake, or the ocean suddenly destroys the shore, and causes an overflow of water onto the shore.
The Standard Flood Insurance Policy defines a mudflow as a river of water and flowing mud on top of dry land. A mudflow is not considered to be a landslide, when a slope falls apart due to heavy rainfall or an earthquake, or a geological disaster.
If your property is insured with the Standard Flood Insurance Policy and has been damaged by mudflow, you will be eligible to get money from NFIP. However, your front and back yard are not covered under the policy.
The Standard Flood Insurance Policy does not cover damage to your property if it was caused by ground movement, even if it was caused by a flood. Some examples of ground movement that are not covered by the policy are landslides and slow erosion of land.
If you experience damage to your home due to a flood or mudflow, you should immediately contact your insurance agent or insurance company to report your loss. If you do not have your policy information, they should be able to look it up for you; or call 800.427.4661 (711 or Video Relay Service users can also call 800.427.4661) and let them know you are trying to reach the National Flood Insurance Program’s Help Center.
When you are calling the Flood Insurance number, you need to give the name of your insurance company and a phone number or email address where you can be reached.
After you file your claim, make sure you ask for an approximate time frame when an adjuster can come to your home to inspect the damage. Insurance agents and claim adjusters will work closely with you on your claim.
For more information about the National Flood Insurance Program or the Standard Flood Insurance Policy, call 800.427.4661 (711 or Video Relay Service users can also call 800.427.4661) and let them know you are trying to reach the National Flood Insurance Program’s Help Center.