Economic Impact Of Floods Unclear
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
But with water seeping into homes, washing over county roads and threatening local businesses, insurance agents and local officials soon will be calculating the cost.[[In-content Ad]]Assistant County Planner Matt Sandy said much of the cost to residents and business owners whose homes and businesses have sustained flood damage will likely be covered by flood insurance. Sandy said most flood insurance in the county is underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program. Kosciusko County began participating in the NFIP in 1987 by adopting a county flood ordinance regulating construction in officially identified flood plains. Sandy said flood plain maps, which create the basis for the county's flood ordinance, are based on events like the current floods.
"This is one of the greater events we've had in quite awhile," Sandy said.
Sandy said the current floods could provide the Federal Emergency Management Agency an opportunity to update flood maps.
Sandy said communities under the county's jurisdiction like Syracuse, Claypool and Pierceton are covered by the county's adoption of the NFIP, and other communities like Warsaw and Winona Lake also participate in the program through their own flood ordinances.
Not all local communities participate in the NFIP. Mentone Town Attorney Larry Beeson said Mentone is in the process of adopting a flood ordinance to participate in the federal program, but the ordinance has not yet been adopted. Beeson said he does not know what the impact will be on Mentone residents with flood damage.
Jerry Clevenger, an insurance agent at Source One Insurance, said there's been a flow of residents visiting his office with flood claims and questions about coverage.
Clevenger said, though, through the NFIP, most flood insurance policies will be similar. Those without flood insurance should examine their home insurance policies.
"For example, if you don't have flood insurance and water gets into your basement through surface water, there's no coverage for it," he said. "But, some home coverage has basic coverage for backup of sewer and drains. It's an individual thing. Each individual case needs its own attention."
Area farms may not be in much danger from flood waters. Kosciusko County Purdue Extension Agriculture Educator Kelly Easterday said most area farmers plant cover crops or leave crop residue to prevent soil erosion. However, Easterday said, winter wheat and hay fields that have been saturated by rising water may have a lower yield this year.
Some local government departments also will soon be assessing costs of the floods that aren't covered by insurance.
"It will obviously affect us because you don't usually budget for an extreme event like this," said Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent Dennis Pletcher. "We've had to spend a lot of man hours trying to unplug culverts, clear drains and block off roads instead of doing our normal duties."
Pletcher said the time spent responding to the floods and falling behind on routine maintenance work in the county is only the beginning of the expenses his department will face. The rising water also will take a toll on the county's roads and other infrastructure.
"It's too early to tell how much at this point," said Pletcher, "but, with the roads being saturated and traffic still moving, we'll probably have another rough spring again with pothole filling and road reconstruction."
Pletcher said the below-freezing temperatures in this weekend's weather forecast are another cause for concern. He said if the roads freeze, they may deteriorate faster, costing the county more money.
For more information about the NFIP, visit www.floodsmart.gov
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But with water seeping into homes, washing over county roads and threatening local businesses, insurance agents and local officials soon will be calculating the cost.[[In-content Ad]]Assistant County Planner Matt Sandy said much of the cost to residents and business owners whose homes and businesses have sustained flood damage will likely be covered by flood insurance. Sandy said most flood insurance in the county is underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program. Kosciusko County began participating in the NFIP in 1987 by adopting a county flood ordinance regulating construction in officially identified flood plains. Sandy said flood plain maps, which create the basis for the county's flood ordinance, are based on events like the current floods.
"This is one of the greater events we've had in quite awhile," Sandy said.
Sandy said the current floods could provide the Federal Emergency Management Agency an opportunity to update flood maps.
Sandy said communities under the county's jurisdiction like Syracuse, Claypool and Pierceton are covered by the county's adoption of the NFIP, and other communities like Warsaw and Winona Lake also participate in the program through their own flood ordinances.
Not all local communities participate in the NFIP. Mentone Town Attorney Larry Beeson said Mentone is in the process of adopting a flood ordinance to participate in the federal program, but the ordinance has not yet been adopted. Beeson said he does not know what the impact will be on Mentone residents with flood damage.
Jerry Clevenger, an insurance agent at Source One Insurance, said there's been a flow of residents visiting his office with flood claims and questions about coverage.
Clevenger said, though, through the NFIP, most flood insurance policies will be similar. Those without flood insurance should examine their home insurance policies.
"For example, if you don't have flood insurance and water gets into your basement through surface water, there's no coverage for it," he said. "But, some home coverage has basic coverage for backup of sewer and drains. It's an individual thing. Each individual case needs its own attention."
Area farms may not be in much danger from flood waters. Kosciusko County Purdue Extension Agriculture Educator Kelly Easterday said most area farmers plant cover crops or leave crop residue to prevent soil erosion. However, Easterday said, winter wheat and hay fields that have been saturated by rising water may have a lower yield this year.
Some local government departments also will soon be assessing costs of the floods that aren't covered by insurance.
"It will obviously affect us because you don't usually budget for an extreme event like this," said Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent Dennis Pletcher. "We've had to spend a lot of man hours trying to unplug culverts, clear drains and block off roads instead of doing our normal duties."
Pletcher said the time spent responding to the floods and falling behind on routine maintenance work in the county is only the beginning of the expenses his department will face. The rising water also will take a toll on the county's roads and other infrastructure.
"It's too early to tell how much at this point," said Pletcher, "but, with the roads being saturated and traffic still moving, we'll probably have another rough spring again with pothole filling and road reconstruction."
Pletcher said the below-freezing temperatures in this weekend's weather forecast are another cause for concern. He said if the roads freeze, they may deteriorate faster, costing the county more money.
For more information about the NFIP, visit www.floodsmart.gov
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