As insurance and real estate agents and homeowners feared, Congress left Washington without extending the federal flood insurance program.
Congress adjourned until April 12 after failing to agree on an unemployment benefits bill that included a provision with an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program.
As a result, the federal flood insurance program's authority to write new policies ends on Sunday, March 28 at midnight. After that time, insurance agents will not be able to provide new or renewal flood insurance policies, which are required by lenders to close on some real estate sales.