DENTON, Texas –– New flood maps become effective in Jim Wells County on Aug. 15, 2017.
Residents are encouraged to examine these maps to decide whether they need to buy flood insurance. Awareness of flood risk can help individuals and community leaders can make informed decisions about building and development.
Many people do not realize it, but flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the U.S. and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events.
Most homeowner insurance policies do not cover the effects of flooding. Anyone without flood insurance risks uninsured and expensive losses to their homes, personal property and businesses.
Flood insurance is available either through a private policy, or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP is a voluntary program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, contact your local floodplain administrator. “We have to find out what our risks are in order to prepare for them,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “Floods can happen anywhere.”
FEMA map specialists and flood insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat.
FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to obtaining information about insurance. Our National Flood Insurance Program Call Center is available to help residents with this process by calling 1-800-621-3362 and select Option 2.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.
