Arizona Flood Insurance Quote

Recent floods shatter U.S.'s false belief in taming rivers

MILTON-FREEWATER, — The levee system along the Walla Walla River is badly in need of repair in this Eastern Oregon town, costing homeowners a flood insurance premium until the system is fixed.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stopped certifying the levee system near Milton-Freewater in 2007. The corps said it discovered damage during inspections that rendered the levee unusable. The Federal Emergency Management Agency then redrew flood maps as if no levee were in place. Homeowners were forced to buy flood insurance because of the change in designation.
Voters approved a $2.85 million bond in November to pay for improvement. Project managers say the bond’s cost to individual property owners is less than the premium for flood insurance. The work — and new FEMA maps — are expected by next summer. The current maps show the possibility of shallow flooding in most of the city and some outlying areas.
— The Associated Press

DAKOTA DUNES, S.D. — Skeptical locals offered a warning when developers transformed a mostly barren peninsula at the intersection of two rivers into an exclusive planned community, complete with million-dollar homes and a golf course.

They call it “the Dunes” for a reason: The rivers put the sand there, and the rivers could sweep it away. Now, a little more than two decades later, stately homes have been evacuated and the 18th hole is under water, as miles of newly built levees strain to keep this community from historic flooding.

And now, some people are using the high waters from North Dakota to New Orleans to revisit longstanding questions about whether the very government programs designed to safeguard people from floods actually encourage them to take chances.

“Most people don’t understand what flood risk is,” said Gerry Galloway, a civil engineering professor at the University of Maryland who has written extensively about his concerns. “They assume that if there is some level of protection like a levee or an upstream dam, they’re safe. As a general rule, public officials don’t like to dissuade them of that fact.”

Even those public officials can sometimes fall victim themselves. As governor of South Dakota, Mike Rounds visited many flooded communities over his two terms. But when he left office this year, he moved into a house in Pierre, the state capital, right on the Missouri River. He was forced to evacuate just months later.

The Arizona Republic: Insurance lessons from nature « Austin ...

Arizona’s recent wildfires and monsoon flooding offer insurance lessons for home and business owners throughout the state. One of the most urgent is that wildfires drastically change the landscape around buildings, greatly increasing the risk for flooding and mudslides.

Insurance policies generally do not cover this type of damage. Residents in Flagstaff learned this difficult lesson last year after the Schultz Fire, when more than 38 homes flooded. In summer 2006, monsoon storms caused flooding in more than 93 communities throughout the state. Some homes were hit with a 20-foot surge of water, and the flood-recovery bill was over $4.2 million!

Flood insurance carries a 30-day waiting period and must be purchased separately. For details, contact your insurance agent or the National Flood Insurance Program, www.floodsmart.gov .

Homeowners need to clear the area surrounding their home and take inventory of personal possessions. An annual review of insurance coverage helps prevent unpleasant surprises after a loss. Unfortunately, some property owners underinsure their property and possessions, and the economic lesson of inadequate coverage can be painful.

Homeowners insurance covers the cost to rebuild your structures, not the market value. Despite reduced home values, the cost to rebuild your home could exceed market value.

Be sure to notify your agent or insurer if you’ve made any structural improvements to your home or if you have acquired new belongings. And finally, make sure your homeowners policy covers “additional living expenses” to help pay for lodging and meals if you are evacuated or must reside outside your home during home repairs.

The main lesson: Be proactive about your insurance needs!

- Christina Urias , director of the Arizona Department of Insurance

This was a good article. There are a couple really good tools that you can use while taking an inventory of your personal belongings. Take a video of all your items. Try to get serial numbers and model numbers. then upload this video to youtube (use the unlisted setting so no one else can see it). That way should you will always have a home inventory video. You will want one if you need to file a claim!