FEMA: Get flood insurance

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BY CARMEN McCOLLUM
cmccollum@nwitimes.com
219.662.5337 | Monday, November 17, 2008 | (12 comment(s))

When a flood threatens, most people instinctively grab their loved ones and their wallets, but FEMA experts say if you don't have flood insurance you might as well leave the wallet at home.

Graphic: Learn more about the levees on the Little Calumet River.

Thousands of homes and businesses in Indiana have been damaged by one or more of the 12 floods across the state in the past 10 years, and most Hoosiers, particularly those in Northwest Indiana, lacked the flood insurance needed to pay for repairs.

Virginia Hale, a FEMA mitigation expert who has been in Northwest Indiana talking to residents about how best to protect their homes following September flooding in the region, said people need to get flood insurance whether or not they live in a flood zone.

Greg Main, flood plain manager with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, said flood insurance offers the best opportunity for home and business owners, as well as renters, to protect their biggest financial investment.

He said a standard homeowner's insurance policy doesn't cover flooding, and as little as 2 inches of water can cause thousands of dollars in damage. As long as the community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, residents, business owners and renters are eligible for flood insurance, Main said.

"We all live in a flood zone, it's a matter of different levels of risk, so really, everyone should consider carrying flood insurance," Main said. "In a flood plain, it's not a matter of if, but when a flood will occur," he said.

In general, Main said there has been an increase in the number of floods and the intensity of flood events in Indiana. In the past year, Indiana has had three separate presidential disaster declarations for flooding.

Main said there are plenty of things that people can do to protect themselves such as buying flood insurance, considering alternatives to building in a flood plain and retrofitting existing structures to reduce the risk of flood damage.

Main suggested people remember the quote, "Floods are acts of God, but flood losses are largely acts of man," from Gilbert White, a prominent American geographer.

County Disaster assistance applications through 11/2/08 Flood insurance policies in effect
Lake 14,342 5,558
LaPorte 1,233 175
Porter 1,209 164

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Mike wrote on Nov 17, 2008 9:30 PM:

" The Corp has the power to split stage 8.

Why not bid Columbia to the railroad tressle and secure Munster.

But with out the utility easements, nothing will be completed. Why are you not yelling at them? "

to Stubborn Greedy Homeowner wrote on Nov 17, 2008 5:35 PM:

" Stubborn Greedy Homeowner,
Your insane ranting and raving does not impress us. Thanks for being stubborn and holding up the progress that would have saved our homes and our lives.

Thanks a lot!

Southmoor Road homeowners strongly have opposed the encroachment on their backyards, which are close to the river and have massive old trees in them. In some cases, construction easements between the homes and the river will be just a few feet.

Until the land acquisitions are resolved, the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission cannot seek construction bids. "

Dear Morons wrote on Nov 17, 2008 4:54 PM:

" To the person saysFEMA blows if you only had seepage 5,000 was more than you DESERVE. Take it and say thank you for gettign some of my money. To Munster flood victim; thats how insurance works. If you hire a reputable general contractor they will take their payments in 3 draws. YOur mortgage company will pay out in three draws- that is a business standard. The mortgage documents YOU SIGNED explained all of that!!!! "

Not A Stubborn Greedy Homeowner wrote on Nov 17, 2008 2:26 PM:

" Protecting my home on Southmoor Road has NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING STUBBORN OR GREEDY!! ITS MY PRECIOUS HOME I AM WORRIED ABOUT! If you would have attended meetings for the past 16 YEARS like I have you would know that the Little Cal Commission and the Army Corp of Engineers DO NOT KNOW what they are doing. I don't want my property to end up FLOODED like the Borman Expressway when the flapgate closes and there is nowhere for the water to go but in my home. Besides get the facts, the BIGGEST rain event EVER and we STILL DID NOT FLOOD!! Putting a levee in my backyard is not going to push water to the EAST to flood Munster. The river flows WEST!! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Don't SPEAK until you KNOW ALL THE FACTS! ATTEND THE MEETINGS! The next meeting is December 3rd 6PM @ the Munster Town Hall. BE THERE, IT WILL BE A TRUE EYE OPENER FOR YOU AND EVERYONE THAT ATTENDS!! "

Munster Flood Victim wrote on Nov 17, 2008 12:45 PM:

" Here's a good one. Had flood damage, got a check, made out to me, hubby and the mortage company. They get the check and will come out to inspect the work that we have to pay out of pocket first. What a joke. "

FEMA BLOWS wrote on Nov 17, 2008 11:55 AM:

" Our insurance would not cover the seepage we had, 10 inches or so, wall to wall. FEMA was useless too, they said the devastation we had was enough, only $5,000 or so. FEMA is as useless as Flood insurance. "

stubborn greedy homeowners to blame wrote on Nov 17, 2008 11:52 AM:

" Construction awaits the conclusion of the land acquisition and three utility relocations in Stage VIII of the levee project in Munster and Hammond. The site includes Southmoor Road in Hammond, where about a dozen homeowners have fought the construction of the levee.

Some stubborn homeowners think their precious "trees" are worth more than their Munster neighbors homes and lives:

Southmoor Road homeowners strongly have opposed the encroachment on their backyards, which are close to the river and have massive old trees in them. In some cases, construction easements between the homes and the river will be just a few feet.

Until the land acquisitions are resolved, the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission cannot seek construction bids. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has estimated construction of the last phase of the project will take two years once acquisitions have been completed and construction crews are hired. "

Highland Res wrote on Nov 17, 2008 10:53 AM:

" We have flood insurance and it did VERY LITTLE ($60) to cover $50,000 worth of damages when we flooded and had 3 feet of water in our lower level in Sept. 06. Our house was surrounded by water and it was only inches away from flowing through our first floor as well. What's the point? It's a waste of $900/year. It is a useless policy to have! FEMA gave us $3,000. Yet a friend who had only seepage got $17,000 from FEMA. What a joke!!! "

To Greg Main wrote on Nov 17, 2008 9:51 AM:

" How much are the insurance companies paying you to offer this advice??? I've learned over the years that no government politician recommends something without smoeone pulling his strings beihnd the curtain. Instead of blaming people who do not live in a flood zone how about asking politicians to change the law so that property insurance include flood coverage. "

Cindy wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:20 AM:

" I learned my lesson living in Highland. You don't always have to be afraid of the river for a flood. The town can have dysfunctional pumps that don't work, causing flooding. I will keep my flood insurance and pay the lower rate for not being in an emergency flood zone. Everyone else should also. "

Nice try wrote on Nov 17, 2008 6:32 AM:

" I've tried to get flood insurance and my insurance company says that they won't give it to me because I don't live in a flood plain.....guess what, that didn't stop my home from flooding in September! "

Paul Walters wrote on Nov 17, 2008 5:40 AM:

" Have you looked into flood insurnce? "

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