Deadline passes for discounted flood insurance

Kenneth Ma

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Many residents living in flood zones have missed the

deadline for cheap flood insurance.

Effective last week, home and business owners in these areas with

mortgages or loans from federally backed financial institutions were

required to purchase mandatory flood insurance from the Federal Emergency

Management Agency. Flood insurance is optional for residents who are

renters.

Between 50% to 60% of residents in Huntington Beach reside in areas that

are subjected to the 100-year flood threat, said Susan Pierce, a city

associate planner. That means there is a 1% chance that a major flood

could occur in those areas.

As a courtesy to those residents, the federal agency offered discounted

flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. That

offered expired Wednesday.

Now, many residents will have to pay normal rates, having missed the

deadline for discounts, said Diane Adams, a local insurance agent.

“If you didn’t hear about [the discount], then there is nothing you can

do about it,” she said. “For those that heard about it and did nothing,

they were probably too busy and it might be an expensive lesson.”

Adams said the discount insurance ranged from $250 to $800 a year,

depending on the deductible or value of the building or home and its

content. Regular insurance ranges from $500 to $3,900.”I feel fortunate

that I was able to find out about it and purchase it,” said John

Mastright, a resident on Drey Lane.

He said neither the city nor the federal government provided advance

notice to those who needed to purchase the insurance. Mastright said he

purchased the mandatory insurance for $379 a year.

“I think FEMA let us down by not notifying us,” he said.Debi Dudley, a

resident on Shoreham Lane, said most people were not aware of the

availability of discounts due to the lack of exposure. Dudley, who paid

$576 for her insurance, said she didn’t find out about the discounted

rates until last week.

Pierce said the city tried to inform residents about the new flood maps

and insurance by establishing a telephone hotline, placing information

outside the City Council chambers and the Huntington Beach Central

Library, creating a link on the city’s Web site for flood information and

making flood information letters from the federal agency readily

available.

“I guess the lesson to be learned is to always be well-informed,” she

said.

Adams said she was informed about the new flood maps and insurance by

attending one of two meetings in May held by U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher

(R-Huntington Beach) in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley.

The city recently had received complaints from residents who were

confused about the new flood maps and insurance, she said.

The federal agency released maps rezoning the flood areas last month.

With all the changes, residents are advised to check the maps.

Mastright said making flood insurance mandatory is unfair because the

100-year flood threat will never occur in Huntington Beach.

“There will be an earthquake first,” he said.