EASTERN SHORE–We have all heard stories, watched it on the news or maybe even experienced it first-hand – Mother Nature at her best, dishing out torrential down pours causing devastating flooding to homes, businesses, churches and schools.
These stories prompt homeowners and potential homeowners to ask specific questions regarding floodplains and flood insurance to protect themselves, their families and their homes.
With recent revisions made to area flood maps, homeowners across the peninsula will be prompted to ask those questions all over again. FEMA’s updates have changed the areas designated as flood zones.
“Coastal Association of REALTORS and its members are being proactive in informing homeowners about the changes made to the flood zones and educating them on how to protect their properties through flood insurance programs, said Sheila Dodson, CAR executive director.
“Most people on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia live in a flood plain or close to one,” said Beth Gismondi, president, Gismondi Insurance Associates. You don’t have to live on a creek or river and/or only worry about flooding when a hurricane hits. It is happening everywhere because the topography on Delmarva is changing. More and more people are paving their driveways which change the flow of water when it rains. You have to take into account how much rain is falling and where it is going to end up.”
Residents and business owners can contact their insurance agent or the county permitting office with questions about their flood risk and to look at the revised maps to see if their home or business falls within a flood zone.
The National Association of REALTORS recently backed legislation to delay changes to federal flood insurance premiums. New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez and more than two dozen other senators are pushing legislation that would delay the premium increases for four years, until Congress is able to make sure the rate increases are affordable.
But insurance and tax policy experts have taken a position against the delay of premium rate hikes on National Flood Insurance Program policies, stating that the delay will put the program on unstable ground and undo important reforms to the program.
These stories prompt homeowners and potential homeowners to ask specific questions regarding floodplains and flood insurance to protect themselves, their families and their homes.
With recent revisions made to area flood maps, homeowners across the peninsula will be prompted to ask those questions all over again. FEMA’s updates have changed the areas designated as flood zones.
“Coastal Association of REALTORS and its members are being proactive in informing homeowners about the changes made to the flood zones and educating them on how to protect their properties through flood insurance programs, said Sheila Dodson, CAR executive director.
“Most people on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia live in a flood plain or close to one,” said Beth Gismondi, president, Gismondi Insurance Associates. You don’t have to live on a creek or river and/or only worry about flooding when a hurricane hits. It is happening everywhere because the topography on Delmarva is changing. More and more people are paving their driveways which change the flow of water when it rains. You have to take into account how much rain is falling and where it is going to end up.”
Residents and business owners can contact their insurance agent or the county permitting office with questions about their flood risk and to look at the revised maps to see if their home or business falls within a flood zone.
The National Association of REALTORS recently backed legislation to delay changes to federal flood insurance premiums. New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez and more than two dozen other senators are pushing legislation that would delay the premium increases for four years, until Congress is able to make sure the rate increases are affordable.
But insurance and tax policy experts have taken a position against the delay of premium rate hikes on National Flood Insurance Program policies, stating that the delay will put the program on unstable ground and undo important reforms to the program.