Midwest flood victims feel misled by feds

[proud2BlibKansan]

Juli Parks didn't worry when water began creeping up the levee that shields this town of about 750 from the Mississippi River - not even when volunteers began piling on sandbags.

After all, local officials had assured townspeople in 1999 that the levee was sturdy enough to withstand a historic flood, and FEMA had agreed. In fact, some relieved homeowners dropped their flood insurance, and others applied for permits to build new houses and businesses.

Then on Tuesday, the worst happened: The levee burst and Gulfport was submerged in 10 feet of water. Only 28 property owners were insured against the damage.

"They all told us, 'The levees are good. You can go ahead and build,'" said Parks, who did not buy flood coverage because her bank no longer required it. "We had so much confidence in those levees."

more . . .

[silverojo]

1. OK, I know this country's disaster preparedness sucks, but....

What sort of moron would cancel their flood insurance?!? Our house isn't even on a flood plain, let alone near a river, but we're looking into flood insurance simply because of all the rain we've been getting.

Who cares if banks require flood insurance, or not? Lots of flooding happens in areas nowhere near a levee...all it takes is heavy rain and oversaturation of soil.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I can't buy flood insurance even if I want it

Here you have to live in a flood plain to get it.

The article also said the bank that held their mortgage said they didn't need it anymore. So I don't fault these people and I don't consider them morons either.

[stillcool]

5. we had a 100-year flood here..

although we were renting and only lost our possessions, we saw lots of people lose everything. We lived by a stream. In the past few years there had been lots of construction going on, and lots of wooded areas were developed, which I think contributed to the water level rising. It was the freakiest thing I've ever seen. One guy we know that lost his business had flood insurance, but it wasn't the 'right kind'. He bought the insurance he was told was appropriate. I guess it's easy to blame him for trusting that the people counseling him knew what they were talking about. Now many of the insurance companies are no longer offering flood insurance.

[Itchinjim]

6. "Morons" who can't afford it any more.

Over seven years my flood insurance more than doubled to almost $1200 per year, every year the premium rose 15 to 20% . This must be paid in one lump sum and I was having more and more difficulty coming up with the cash, so I petitioned FEMA to remove my house from the flood plain. Fortunately my house is elevated high enough for them to do so. Other "morons" aren't quite so lucky or quite so wealthy to be able to afford flood insurance.

[MedleyMisty]

2. I do feel for her and I don't blame them in any way

but I do have to question trusting FEMA about levees - did they not hear about Katrina, perhaps?

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Maybe they had faith that FEMA would get better?