Being out of floodplain doesn’t mean homes won’t flood
"When the flood's coming in your backyard, it's too late," said
Flood insurance doesn't go into effect until 30 days after it's been purchased, Hvinden said. In other words, now is not a bad time to consider a policy.
He traveled through the region last week, talking about the importance of flood insurance.
There was a 7 percent decrease in flood insurance policies for
"We always see spikes after a major event," Hvinden said.
But after a few years go by, people start thinking they don't need it.
Flood insurance doesn't cover only large events, said
To file a claim, there needs to be flooding on 2 acres or two properties, he said.
"If my property and the street or my neighbor's property floods, I can file a claim," Birney said.
A common issue is that most homeowner's insurance doesn't cover flooding, he said.
With flood insurance, the building -- foundation, electrical, plumbing, structural integrity -- as well as its contents are covered, Birney said.
Property owners don't have to live in a floodplain to buy flood insurance, he said. About 30 percent of claims come from outside high-risk zones.
Food maps aren't always accurate, said
The maps aren't updated annually because it takes quite a bit of work to make the maps, DeFelice said. So new developments, such as a parking lot or building, can increase runoff and change the flood risk, he said.
Currently, about 197 properties in
When a town joins, it is offered disaster assistance by
Since becoming a member, there have been 326 claims made by flood insurance policyholders in
Rates are set by the federal government based on geographic data and risks. Properties in areas of higher risk have higher premiums.
The average premium in
Those in low-risk areas can get a preferred risk policy with maximum coverage for about
Since the rates are set by the government, the cost of a policy should be equitable no matter the insurer, Birney said.
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