When people buy a home in many flood-prone areas of Hampton Roads, they must purchase flood insurance before they can sign the final documents.
Flood insurance is required for most buyers using federally-backed mortgages in government-drawn high risk flood zones. That includes parts of neighborhoods across the region, such as Larchmont in Norfolk, Olde Towne Portsmouth and Fox Hill in Hampton.
But the ongoing government shutdown has put the National Flood Insurance Program on hold, preventing it from issuing new policies or renewing existing ones…