USA: FEMA 'misconceptions can prevent flood insurance purchase'

Source(s): Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Arkansas - Destructive flooding regularly occurs in Arkansas; only one percent of the state's residents and businesses have flood insurance. Some may not be purchasing insurance due to a number of misconceptions about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

"Sometimes people are given wrong information, such as ‘their property isn't eligible for flood insurance' when it is," said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Moore with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA administers the NFIP. "I urge everyone to visit the www.floodsmart.gov Web site or speak with an insurance agent who sells flood insurance to get accurate information about their risk and the insurance policies that are available."

Misconceptions about flood risk and the NFIP fall into several categories, including misinformation about who can buy flood insurance, the need for flood insurance, flood insurance coverage and NFIP itself.

"Flood insurance helps Arkansas residents protect their assets and our state's overall economic health in the event of floods," said State Coordinating Officer Rich Griffin with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Service (ADEM). "I urge people to educate themselves about flood risk and flood insurance and make wise choices to protect their family's financial health."

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