With an El Niño predicted for the coming months, Senator Jeff Stone, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is urging Californians to purchase flood insurance now, even if they live in areas that have not flooded previously.
Four years of drought have left California with dry, hard-packed soil that is unable to absorb large amounts of rain. The runoff from heavy rains can and will cause extensive damage.
“We have already seen the kind of devastation an El Niño can cause when heavy rain led to cars being covered with mud and closing Interstate 5 earlier this month,” said Senator Stone. “This summer one heavy shower destroyed a bridge on Interstate 10 in Desert Center.”
To find out more and obtain information about purchasing flood insurance, FEMA has established the website: www.FloodSmart.gov.
You can also link to that site from the Senator’s website: www.Senate.Ca/Gov/Stone.
“Now is the time to prepare your home or business for heavy winter rains,” Senator Stone said. “And, if you don’t already own it, the time to buy flood insurance is now.”
Here are a few “Flood Facts” from FEMA:
• Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
• A car can easily be carried away by just 2 feet of rushing water.
• New land development can increase flood risk, especially if the construction changes natural runoff patterns.
• Most standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding.
• In most cases, it takes 30 days after purchase for a policy to take effect, so it’s important to buy insurance before the storm approaches and floodwaters start to rise.
