National Flood Insurance (NFIP) is a critical program that ensures homes in flood plains can be insured (even non-coastal proprieties like those near a river or water source right here in the Berkshires). The NFIP also ensures that there is funding to redraw the flood plain maps that all of our communities use to determine water levels and risk. (many of our maps are over 30 years old!).  This federal program is set to expire 9/30/17 – we urge you to take 1 minute to tell your member of Congress to support H.R. 2874, “The 21st Century Flood Reform Act.”.  This legislation makes critical improvements to the NFIP, including increased funds for mitigation activities, caps on overall premium increases, improved claim and mapping processes, as well as removing hurdles for more private market participation in the flood insurance market. Re-authorization of the NFIP will help over 5 million homeowners in 22,000 communities around the country, so it is critical Congress acts now.  Please do your part to help protect homeowners.