PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EST THU MAR 24 2005

THE NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED MARCH 21 THROUGH 26
FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. THE NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
CHARLESTON WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH DAY DURING
THE AWARENESS WEEK. TODAYS TOPIC: DETERMINING FLOOD RISK AND 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. 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 OBTAIN A FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY?

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.

WHO CAN PURCHASE FLOOD INSURANCE?

ANYONE IN A COMMUNITY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD
INSURANCE PROGRAM CAN PURCHASE BUILDING AND...OR CONTENTS COVERAGE
WITH ONLY A FEW EXCEPTIONS.