Hello There! What Would You Like To Do Today? Improve My Health Improve My Wealth Improve My Home Improve My Cooking Improve My Hobby Improve My Sex Life Improve My Garden Trace My Family Tree Make Me Smile Let's Take a Vacation Send a Message to President Bush Send a Message to MY Congressman Send a Message to MY U.S. Senator Look at the Very Best Senior Sites on the Web Search the Book Shelves of Amazon.com		Floods can strike anywhere and anytime. And a flood does not stay in one place. If moves. And as it moves it picks up momentum, growing stronger and more dangerous. It rages and sweeps along everything in its path. So even though you may not live near water, it can reach you, and by the time it does, the results can be devastating. In minutes, you could lose everything you've spent a lifetime building. Common misconceptions about floods that could wash away your dreams. "It can't happen to me, I don't even live near water." If you believe a flood can't hit you, you're mistaken. The truth is, 90% of all natural disasters in this country involve flooding. And between 25% and 30% of flood insurance claims come from areas designated low-risk. "Why should I worry? I'm covered by my homeowner's insurance." As many flood victims have found out only after they've been flooded, home owner's insurance policies don't cover flood damage. "If there is a flood, the Federal government will take care of me." Not necessarily. Most floods are too small or local to qualify for Federal assistance. Even if a flood in your area qualifies for Federal assistance, that assistance comes in the form of grants or loans. Grants are usually in amount that barely cover your losses, much less enable you to rebuild. and disaster home loans, with an average repayment plan of 18.5 years, must be repaid with interest on tip of your existing mortgage loan. What if slowly rising waters leave nine inches of mud in your living room? what if yours is the only neighborhood in the path of the flood? Then what do you do? Then you're on your own, left to pick up the pieces of your life. You might have to begin all over again without assistance or resources. You can protect yourself with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Fortunately, affordable flood insurance is available. The National Flood Insurance Program, NFIP, in conjunction with most of the country's major insurance companies and thousands of independent insurance agents, offers flood insurance to individuals and business across the country. Flood insurance claims are paid even if a Federal disaster is not declared. And flood insurance is reasonably priced. The annual premium for flood insurance is a lot less than the monthly payment for a typical $50, 000 disaster home loan. If you live in a low-risk area, your annual premium could be less than $100. Not a lot to pay for a lot of peace of mind. The bottom line is, nothing can help you recover from a flood better that flood insurance. Chances are you are eligible for flood insurance. If your neighbor has already suffered from flood devastation you know it can happen again. And even if you've never experienced a flood, it doesn't necessarily mean you never will. For example, replacing open areas with buildings and pavement can increase runoff, and ultimately, the flood risk. The NFIP was created by Congress to provide insurance for property owners in flood-prone communities. In exchange for flood insurance, communities agree to implement and enforce measure to reduce the possibilities of future damage. The good news is that almost all of the nation's communities wit flooding potential have joined the NFIP. So the chances are excellent that your community is participating in the program and flood insurance is available to you. Plan ahead by calling your insurance agent or company for infor4mation about flood insurance. If you should find your elf knee-deep in water, you’ll be glad you did. We're all at risk. Everyone lives in a flood zone. But most people don't know their degree of flood risk. That's why buying flood insurance is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself. Fortunately, information is close at hand. It's easy. Just call your insurance company, agent or the NFIP at 1-800-611-6123, ext. 490 to find out how to obtain flood insurance. But it's up to you to make the first call. This could be one of the most important calls you'll ever make. While you can't prevent floods, you can protect yourself against spending long years recovering from devastation wreaked in a matter of hours or even minutes. With NFIP coverage, a disaster doesn't have to become a tragedy. Peace of mind is as close as your phone. Call your insurance company, agent or the National Flood Insurance Program at 1-800-611-6123, ext. 490 today. Return to The Senior Center