Catron County Connection: Whitewater-Baldy - reminder: Flood ...

Last year, when the Wallow Fire in Arizona was only 2 weeks old, the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs began notifying the public about flood insurance. ?Once monsoon rains start, flood risk increases after a wildfire the size of the Wallow or the Whitewater-Baldy. ?Even though the?Whitewater-Baldy will not be contained for some time,?it is not too soon for New Mexico residents to start thinking about flood insurance, because flood insurance policies don't go into effect until 30 days after purchase.

Here is a quote from last year's notice from the state of Arizona:

Wildfire alters the landscape in ways that increase water and mud runoff in burned areas. Under normal circumstances, the forest floor drains, dissipates and absorbs water effectively enough to reduce flooding downstream. Burned forest areas are more unstable and less able to hold water, collecting downstream with increased velocity and often resulting in urban and flash flooding.

This is why it pays to have flood insurance. Most homeowners? insurance policies do not cover flood damage but most agents who sell homeowner?s insurance also can sell federal flood insurance policies. Detailed information about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is available at FloodSmart.gov on the Internet.

A phone call to the NFIP referral center at (888) 379-9531 will connect directly with a program representative who can provide local insurance agents and mail a program brochure.

It takes 30 days for an NFIP policy to go into effect after it is purchased, and with [the] monsoon season rapidly approaching, now is the time to consider buying flood insurance.

Flood insurance is also available to renters to cover their belongings, and businesses, which can cover properties and contents. Residents and business owners in flood hazard zones, known as floodplains, may be required to carry flood insurance by their lender.

Blogmaster note: More information will be posted on this blog about flood insurance as soon as it is available.?

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