Changes have been made in the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (HFIAA) in 2014. Due to these changes, flood insurance clients are witnessing premium increase ranging from 15% to 18% on primary residence properties.

Increase of up to 25% is seen on secondary homes or homes that have suffered repeated losses. New surcharges have also been included - $25 for primary homes and $250 for others.

The rise is considered to be part of Congress's effort to reduce some of the $250 billion debt incurred by the National Flood Insurance Program after losses suffered from Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy.

Scott Primiano, an Amityville insurance broker, said, "The concept sounds good, but no one can say what the full risk is. ... They are going to take it in bits and pieces every year and it keeps going until Congress determines we've had enough".

Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Rafael Lemaitre was of the view that for so many years, it has been witnessed that the flood insurance program has been paying out more than it has taken it.

The new legislation means to improve the long sustainability of the program while ensuring that the needs of policyholders are not ignored. It has been found that millions of Americans whose homes were damaged due to Superstorm Sandy are paying double-digit increase in flood insurance premiums.

In fact, the one living mortgages in high-risk flood regions are paying 18% increase as a part of new legislation. The new rates are said to be lower than proposed under legislation passed in 2012.