In the post Katrina era we all have a much better understanding of how devastating a major flood can be to both individuals and a community. When Katrina hit, the levees in place to protect the city failed and what resulted was one of the worst disasters in American history. Unfortunately, most people are not well informed about the dangers of floods and what they can do to protect themselves from financial devastation in the event of a flood. In fact when most people think about floods, they only consider catastrophic disasters like Katrina and they forget that even an inch of water can cause several thousand dollars of damage to both structures and personal property.

In recent years since Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Government has been the focus of substantial pressure and scrutiny about the way the disaster in New Orleans was handled. Some serious questions have arisen about the strength of the levies protecting the city and why the majority of residents did not have flood insurance given that they were living in a basin with a great potential for flooding. As a result of these experiences the US Federal Government has become much more aware of the devastation that flooding can cause and the importance of preparing and educating communities that could be the victims of a flood.

On Tuesday, January 15, 2008 the Federal Government took a serious step forward in their fight to educate and prepare our community for the possibility of a serious flood. A study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicated that the levies surrounding Natomas, CA did not meet the minimum requirements and therefore FEMA announced Tuesday that it would place Natomas in a flood hazard zone. This new zone will go into effect in December of 2008 and it will halt all new construction in the area as well as make it required that all properties with a federally backed loan must now carry a flood insurance policy.

Beginning in December of 2008, Property owners in Natomas will be required to purchase a Natomas flood insurance policy at a cost of approximately $1390 per year. The good news is that residents have been given warning about this new requirement and there are still ways to get Natomas flood insurance and be compliant without paying huge $1000+ premiums. We did some research and if we purchase our policies before the December deadline then we would still be able to purchase a Preferred Risk Policy for only $317. There are also other benefits of purchasing a policy before the December deadline. If residents purchase a Preferred Risk Policy before the deadline they will not only save over $1,000 in their first year, but they will also be grandfathered in at a lower rate of $769 when their policy renews and they will be allowed to keep that rate for as long as they keep the policy active.

Everyone in Natomas will soon be required to buy Flood Insurance.