NOUS42 KCHS 230930
PNSCHS
GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>051-240900-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
429 AM EST THU MAR 23 2006

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED MARCH 20 THROUGH 24 AS 
FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN 
CHARLESTON WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH DAY 
DURING THE AWARENESS WEEK. TODAY/S TOPIC IS...DETERMINING FLOOD RISK 
AND THE NEED FOR FLOOD INSURANCE.


WHAT IS FLOOD INSURANCE?

IN 1968...CONGRESS CREATED THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM IN 
RESPONSE TO THE RISING COST OF TAXPAYER-FUNDED DISASTER RELIEF FOR 
FLOOD VICTIMS AND THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY FLOODS.


WHY DO I NEED FLOOD INSURANCE?

FLOOD LOSSES ARE NOT COVERED BY YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE POLICY. 
LOCAL FLOODING CAN HAPPEN IN ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AT ALMOST ANY 
TIME OF THE YEAR...BUT IS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC IN COASTAL 
LOCATIONS PRONE TO TROPICAL CYCLONES. FLOODING CAUSES MORE DAMAGE IN 
THE UNITED STATES THAN ANY OTHER WEATHER RELATED EVENT...AN AVERAGE 
OF 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.


HOW DO I DETERMINE IF I LIVE IN A FLOOD ZONE?

THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY...FEMA...HAS RESOURCES ON 
THEIR WEBSITE THAT SHOW WHAT AREAS HAVE BEEN DECLARED FLOOD-PRONE. 
THIS DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL BE REQUIRED BY YOUR MORTGAGE 
COMPANY TO OBTAIN FLOOD INSURANCE. MUCH MORE INFORMATION IS 
AVAILABLE ON THEIR WEBSITE. THE ADDRESS IS HTTP://WWW.FLOODSMART.GOV


HOW DO I OBTAIN A FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY?

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PURCHASE FLOOD INSURANCE...YOU CAN 
PURCHASE A POLICY TO COVER YOUR PROPERTY. YOU CAN PURCHASE NATIONAL 
FLOOD INSURANCE FROM PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND AGENTS. IN 
FACT...YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT WITH A CREDIT CARD. 
CURRENTLY...THERE ARE OVER 100 INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT SELL 
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE...IN ADDITION TO SOME 60 THOUSAND 
INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS.

IF THE SELLER OF THE PROPERTY HAS FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE ON THE
BUILDING...THAT POLICY CAN BE ASSIGNED TO THE BUYER AT THE TIME OF
CLOSING. IF THE MORTGAGE COMPANY REQUIRES FLOOD INSURANCE AS A 
CONDITION OF THE LOAN...THE LENDER MAY ESCROW FLOOD INSURANCE 
PREMIUMS ...MAKING IT EASY TO ENSURE THAT YOU WILL NOT GET CAUGHT 
WITHOUT FLOOD INSURANCE WHEN A FLOOD THREATENS YOUR HOME.


ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS WITH FLOOD INSURANCE?

ANYONE IN A COMMUNITY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD 
INSURANCE PROGRAM CAN PURCHASE BUILDING AND/OR CONTENTS COVERAGE... 
WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS. COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES SYSTEM 
AREAS...OTHERWISE PROTECTED AREAS...AND BUILDINGS PRINCIPALLY BELOW 
GROUND OR ENTIRELY OVER WATER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR NATIONAL FLOOD 
INSURANCE.

$$