Greenwood, Mississippi

        ... 2010 National flood safety awareness week...

                 day 4 Thursday March 18, 2010

Today is the fourth day of the annual National weather service's
flood safety awareness week. The purpose of the week is to raise
public attention to the dangers of flooding and ways to protect life
and property.

Today... we will focus on the National flood insurance program.

Most people do not realize that damage caused by flooding is not
covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Local flooding can
happen in all parts of the country at any time of the year. Flooding
causes more damage in the United States than any other weather
related event.

The federal emergency management agency (fema) manages the National
flood insurance program. Flood insurance is available to anyone that
lives in a community that participates in the National flood
insurance program. Community participation is voluntary. To
participate, a community must agree to adopt and enforce flood plain
management ordinances that are designed to reduce future flood
damage. In exchange, the program makes federally backed flood
insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in
the community. If flooding does occur, the community also qualifies
for certain federal Grants and disaster assistance. Fema is also
responsible for updating the National flood insurance program maps.

Flood maps can be purchased or downloaded at no cost at the
following website:

MSC.Fema.Gov or floodsmart.Gov

Many residents of Mississippi, northeast Louisiana, and southeast
Arkansas live in flood vulnerable areas. However, many of these
areas do not require flood insurance. With new development comes
changes to runoff and drainage patterns. This can cause homes or
businesses to flood which have never flooded in the past. A National
flood insurance policy can be purchased by anyone that lives in a
community that participates in the National flood insurance program,
even if you live in an area that has never flooded before.

To buy flood insurance... contact an insurance agent in your area.
Remember it takes 30 days after Purchase for a flood policy to take
effect, so it is important to buy flood insurance well ahead of
flood season and the hurricane season.

For further information, go to:

Www.Weather.Gov/floodsafety