Coming off another devastating weekend of severe weather, officials in Mississippi are reminding residents in all portions of the state to consider purchasing flood insurance ahead of future events.
According to the Mississippi Insurance Department, over one million properties across the state are currently without flood insurance. To bring attention to the need for flood insurance, Gov. Tate Reeves has declared March 16-22 as “Flood Insurance Awareness Week.”
“Mississippi has experienced significant flooding in recent years, causing hardship and financial loss to homeowners and business owners,” Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said. “It’s estimated that even a few inches of rain in a small home could cost more than $10,000 in repairs. At last check, there were nearly 53,000 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in Mississippi.”
Chaney added that flood insurance can be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program or through private insurance, reminding that homeowner’s policies do not cover flooding.
As flood insurance typically takes 30 days after purchase to go into effect, the Mississippi Insurance Department supplied the following tips to prepare for flooding now:
- Sign up for your community warning system. The Emergency Alert System and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
- Learn and practice evacuation routes and shelter plans.
- Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Make digital copies of documents to upload to a password-protected cloud.
- Designate someone out of state to be your family contact in the event of an emergency. Make sure everyone in the household knows the contact’s address and phone number.
- Gather supplies you might need if you are forced to evacuate your home. This includes medication, pet food and crates, and extra batteries and chargers for mobile phones.
Tips to keep in mind in the aftermath of flooding:
- Listen to authorities for information and return home only when authorities say it’s safe.
- Avoid driving, except in emergencies.
- Snakes and other animals may have come into your home or business during a flooding event, so be aware.
- Wear gloves and boots during cleanup.
- Don’t touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you’re standing in water. If it’s safe, turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock.
- Avoid wading in floodwater as it could be contaminated.
- Only use a generator outdoors and away from windows.
- File a flood insurance claim as soon as possible and check with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency to see if you’re eligible for assistance.
