Kind of dumb insurance question regarding induced flooding

[Donnachaidh]

With all the talk of the government causing flooding -- wouldn't this negate any flood insurance held by homeowners in the areas flooded?

As I've never had flood insurance, I'm just wondering if the people who cannot get out of the way of the floods, who have insurance, can get screwed by the insurance companies? After all, technically the government's decision to open the levees means that the government should be responsible for any destruction caused by the floods?

Anyone care to weigh in on this?

[kentuck]

1. Interesting question.

I would say it would be the government's decision to flood the specific areas and their responsibility to the owners of those properties.

[Donnachaidh]

2. that's my take too -- but Barbour has already told the poor in Mississippi they were SOL

So, if the state government is already calling what it plans on doing, does FEMA have to step in and pay? This is an *induced* devastation - certainly no act of God in areas that would have stayed dry if the levees were kept in place.

This just seems like the folks are caught in the middle, with everyone else giving them (or potentially giving them) the big-fingered bird.

[DURHAM D]

3. Isn't most flood insurance provided/backed by FEMA?

It seems like the government made the decision to minimize losses to the government.

[Donnachaidh]

4. well, that I don't know

I hope things have been put into place to minimize the problems....

[Horse with no Name]

5. I was driving along the Red River the other day

and saw the Army Corps of Engineers inspecting the levies. I knew they were going to have to release the water, sooner than later. I then looked around at the houses in the area. My daughter asked me why they were doing that and I explained to her that sometimes, choices are tough and sometimes flooding 100 houses is easier than flooding 10,000+.

We live in an area that we can't get flood insurance. My guess is that FEMA is going to have to direct a majority of the funding for this...but that is just my speculation.

[NYC_SKP]

6. I'm not expert, though I DO live in a house ON a levee....

So I'm interested.

I understand the current effort is opening the Morganza Spillway to allow water to enter into the Morganza Floodway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morganza_Spillway

The floodway is, by design, open to potential flooding and would not be a place where building codes would allow a home or business to exist.

I feel for anyone being flooded out but I fear that they aren't going to have insurance or access to funds that will replace belongings or pay for rebuilding.

I think, instead, that they'll be provided relief by the government and red cross and not much more.

Good question, I'm curious, too.