Officials push flood insurance
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NEW ORLEANS — Flood insurance: If you don’t have it, get it.
With the start of the 2008 hurricane season just a month away, that was the message Thursday from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
“Even if you live away from the coast, you are still vulnerable to flooding,’’ GOHSEP director Mark Cooper said. “Having flood insurance is a proven way you can help yourself recover faster after a damaging flood, especially since homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.’’
Jim Stark, acting associate deputy administrator for FEMA’s Gulf Coast Recovery Office, reminded that there is a 30-day waiting period before a newly purchased flood insurance policy takes effect.
“Call your agent now so that you are covered by the start of hurricane season,’’ he said. “Buying flood insurance is the best way to protect yourself financially from flood damage.’’
Anyone, from property owners to renters to business owners, can buy flood insurance if their community takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA administers the NFIP, which Congress created in 1968 to reduce future flood damage through floodplain management and to provide people with flood insurance.
Nearly 300 communities in Louisiana participate in the NFIP.
FEMA and GOHSEP advise people who want to purchase a flood insurance policy to contact their local insurance agent, or find an agent online at http://www.floodsmart.gov or by calling (800) 427-2419.
After hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the NFIP paid $13.2 billion to Louisiana flood insurance policyholders. The average claim paid for flood damage was $70,000.
Under the program, homeowners can insure their home for up to $250,000 and its contents for up to $100,000. Renters can cover belongings for up to $100,000. Nonresidential property owners can insure a building and its contents for up to $500,000 each.
The cost of a policy depends on a number of factors, most importantly whether a person lives in a low-, moderate- or high-risk flood area. Such flood risks are identified on Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which show flood hazard areas and are used to determine the flood insurance rate for a given property.
FEMA and GOHSEP recommend that people contact their local floodplain management officials to view current local flood maps, or go to FEMA’s Map Service Center at http://www.msc.fema.gov.
In preparing for a flood or other disaster, federal and state officials also urge residents to create a personal evacuation plan; move important objects and papers to a safe place where they cannot be damaged; conduct a thorough home inventory and document belongings to help file future insurance claims; and build an emergency supply kit. For help in building such a kit, go to http://www.ready.gov.
Friday, May 02, 2008
5:24 PM