More on Flood Insurance
I live high on a hill. I don’t expect I’ll ever be flooded. Yet, lately, like many people, I have an awareness of flood insurance that I didn’t have before. Funny how nature captures our attention.According to the media, in Wisconsin alone, there are about 50 communities not participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This makes them ineligible not only for flood insurance but also for state and federal aid. Why would so many communities, like that of Lake Delton, go without? For what reason would local governments leave their constituents, well, not exactly high and dry?The Capital Times editor emeritus Dave Zweifel has an interesting opinion in today’s paper. It sheds light on what otherwise is a murky matter. According to Zweifel:
“There are many reasons, but they usually boil down to that never-ending social and political battle we know as development. Once the municipality agrees with FEMA’s definition of a flood plain, new building within that plain is subject to numerous restrictions. Not only do the buildings have to be constructed to withstand floods, but their location in relation to bodies of water faces restrictions and, in some instances, building can’t happen at all.
Communities and, particularly, the developers don’t like that. Not only do the flood plain rules limit structures like resorts and condos on valued lakefront and riverfront property, but they can put a crimp into a municipality’s grand design to grow and add more tax base.”
How sad.
Once again, it’s all about money and personal desires. Developers want their fortune, without respect to sensible building standards or the land on which they build. And owners want their dream home, whether it’s safe from overflowing waters or not.
Once again I ask: Who should pay for this?
June 20th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I really have a problem with this. Nothing destroys our land more than development and then we have to pay for it over and over. We have to pay for it with our tax dollars and we have to pay for it with increased insurance premiums.
Communities shouldn’t have the choice of opting out of the federal flood program. All communities should have to participate and have to abide by federal guidelines for building. If an individual chooses not to pay for insurance, that’s their choice. But then they can pay for damages themselves.
Americans need to start taking more responsibility for themselves. We’re not children, you know.