With the start of spring fewer than three weeks away, the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance is reminding residents to consider flood insurance or update their policies. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.
With stormy weather in the forecast for the Four States today and tonight, officials with Missouri DCI say now is the time to make changes to your flood policy or get information on a new policy.
There could be multiple flood risks this season, according to the U.S. National Weather Service, the main drivers of flood risk are spring snowmelt due to warmer temperatures and resulting runoff, which impacts the Missouri and Mississippi river systems.
If this snowmelt is combined with heavy rainfall, the flooding risk along these rivers systems is amplified. It is important to note a standard homeowner or renters’ policy typically does not cover flooding damage. Also, flood insurance pays for covered flood damage – regardless of whether there is a federal disaster declaration .
Almost 40 percent of flood insurance claims come from areas not considered high-risk for flooding. A new flood policy takes 30 days to go into effect. For 89 9 KRPS News, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro
