New York homeowners will begin receiving annual flood notices from home insurers at the end of August as part of a new rule change by the state Insurance Department.

The rule change requires insurers to better notify homeowners who may be affected by floods and other natural disasters.

Section 3444 of the state insurance law was amended in response to recent natural disasters and changing weather patterns. Nearly 95 percent of all communities in the state have qualified to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, making homeowners residing in these participating communities eligible to purchase federal flood insurance.

Unfortunately, in the past, some home-owners learned that they had no flood coverage only after a devastating flood. New York residents currently receive a notice that discusses the exclusion of flood loss in their regular homeowners' policies and the availability of a federally insured program.

State law formerly provided that a policyholder receive a flood notice only at policy issuance. The amendment requires that they now receive an annual notice.

Insurers are required to confirm receipt of the letter.