JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Sometimes it pays to buy flood insurance—whether you are required to carry a policy or not.
After the December and January floods, the National Flood Insurance Program paid out about 20 percent of its claims to residents who live in a lower risk flood zone. These zones, marked as B, C and X on a flood map, represent about 300 of more than 1,400 claims made in Missouri.
More than $7 million in flood insurance claims have been paid to Missourians who live in areas considered to be moderate- to low-risk. Flood insurance is not federally required in these flood zones. However, it is still recommended for property owners and renters in these areas.
“The winter floods prove that no matter where you live, flood insurance is a smart investment,” said Jose Mateo Morel, hazard mitigation branch director for the Missouri flood disaster. “We are pleased to see how many people in Missouri made the choice to protect their family and property by building flood insurance.”
Much of Missouri lies in these moderate- to low-risk flood areas. But, two of the largest rivers in the United States, the Mississippi and the Missouri, transverse the state. With more than 1,000 miles of waterways flowing through the state, Missouri is home to many high-risk flood zones.
The majority of flood insurance claims come from the high-risk flood zones or special flood hazard areas. In these areas, there is at least a one-in-four chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage. All home and business owners with mortgages from federally regulated or insured lenders are required to buy flood insurance.
To learn more about your property's flood risk, to estimate an NFIP premium or to locate an insurance agent who sells flood insurance, log on to www.floodsmart.gov.
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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.