County touts federal insurance for floods

Web posted June 24, 2000

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 Flood insurance

By Melissa Hall
Columbia County Bureau

Who would have thought that during the worst drought of the century flood insurance would be needed?

Susan and Arthur Swift of 110 Hillside Drive didn't think so. They lost thousands when their home was flooded during thunderstorms Wednesday that dumped up to 5 inches of rain in the area.

Their backyard retaining wall broke, and their house was inundated with mud and water. The next day, their living room carpet had to be ripped out.

Their home was among 23 in Columbia County damaged by flooding.

``We're lucky we still have a roof over our head,'' Mrs. Swift said. ``Our front yard, you could have gone swimming in it.''

The Swifts bought their house two years ago and were not aware of the flooding problem. They didn't have flood insurance because they didn't know they were in a flood-prone area, Mrs. Swift said.

Columbia, Richmond and Aiken counties are among 19,000 communities in the nation that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), created in 1968 by Congress in response to the rising cost of taxpayer-funded disaster relief for flood victims.

The NFIP makes federally-backed flood insurance available in communities that agree to adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood damage.

Columbia County engineer John Burnham wants everyone to know they are eligible for flood insurance.

``You cannot be turned down for flood insurance in Columbia County,'' Mr. Burnham said. ``Anybody can participate in the National Flood Insurance program - commercial or residential. Some people say, `I don't live in a flood zone, so I can't get flood insurance.' It's just the opposite. We want everyone to buy it.''

Mr. Burnham said his office is trying to fight the misperception that flood insurance is expensive and only available to those who live in flood-prone areas.

``Every time an event like this happens, the same questions keep coming up, and it's my job to increase public education,'' Mr. Burnham said. ``Everyone protects their home from fire; why don't they protect it from floods, which are five or six times more likely to happen in the United States?''

The NFIP is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Federal Insurance Administration. The insurance covers up to $250,000 for residential damages and $500,000 for commercial. Renters can also buy flood insurance. Content insurance is also available for up to $100,000 for residential and $500,000 for commercial.

Premiums, Mr. Burnham said, range from $300 to $1,000 annually for a $125,000 policy.

``It's risk driven; some people are going to pay more than others,'' Mr. Burnham said.

Residents with a single family home in a low-risk areamay be eligible for the Preferred Risk Policy. This policy covers the home and contents with one premium, which can be as little as $106 a year.

``We don't prohibit anyone from building in a floodplain, but if anyone does build in a floodplain, Aiken County requires mandatory flood insurance, and that is put on any plat that is approved through this office,'' said Donna Horsman, who administers the program for Aiken County.

Augusta Richmond County Planning Director George Patty said most mortgage companies now require that their lenders have flood insurance when they are in a floodplain, but older properties sometimes fall through the cracks.

``It's serious, and everybody realizes that,'' Mr. Patty said. ``The big problem is that you do have properties that were built before we had rules, and they are going to flood. We've had development, and even though it conforms to the law and was built with the best engineering practices available, it has exacerbated the problem. Anybody can buy flood insurance. You can be on top of the hill in Augusta and still get it, and the rate would be low; the rate would be based on perceived risk. But you don't have to have it unless you live in a federally regulated floodplain.''

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is underwritten by the federal government and is available through local insurance companies.

``It's the only answer,'' Mr. Burnham said. ``The drainage problems are not going to be resolved overnight. It's the only answer right now to protect your most valuable asset. You'd never think of not having auto insurance or fire insurance, but it's one of those strange quirks of home ownership that people do not look into flood insurance. In the Southeast, you really need to do your homework. Especially with the intensity of storms we have here.''

Flood insurance

In Columbia County, call John Burnham, 868-3424, Ext. 227

In Richmond County, call Terri Turner, 821-1796

In Aiken County, call Donna Horsman, 642-1520

The insurance is available through most insurance agencies.

For more information, point your browser to www.fema.gov/nfip.

Reach Melissa Hall at (706) 868-1222, Ext. 113.