Late Friday, Dec. 28, the Federal Emergency Management Agency reported it will resume the sale of new flood insurance policies and the renewal of expiring flood policies.

The action rescinds initial guidance issued on Dec. 26, 2018, to industry partners to suspend sales operations as a result of the current lapse in annual appropriations.

As of Friday evening, “all National Flood Insurance Program insurers have been directed to resume normal operations immediately and advised that the program will be considered operational since Dec. 21, 2018 without interruption,” according to a statement on FEMA’s website.

On Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, Congress reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program until May 31, 2019. President Donald Trump signed the legislation before the partial federal government shut down started.

The sales suspension threatened thousands of real estate closings nationwide as flood insurance is required for federally-backed loans.

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