Wildfires Escalate Flood Risks, FEMA Warns
Release Date: July 24, 2002
Release Number: HQ-02-120
Washington, D.C. -- Property owners in or near those areas affected by more than 50,000 wildfires of various sizes that have struck the U.S. in recent months, particularly in western states, are now exposed to greatly increased flood danger, according to officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"Although fires are still raging and this year's fire season is not nearly over yet, wildfires have already burned approximately 6.7 million acres, twice the annual average in recent years. The loss of trees, ground cover and other vegetation has greatly increased the possibility of flash floods and mudflows," FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh said.
Allbaugh explained that destroying natural forest barriers and leaving behind scorched and barren land that will take decades to recover frequently results in erosion and devastating flooding, even from relatively small amounts of rain. Such fire damage particularly heightens the risk of flash floods, which strike suddenly and with greater velocity and debris loads than seasonal flooding, Allbaugh said.
FEMA officials emphasize that you don't have to be in a high-risk flood zone to be at risk from floods-or to be able to purchase federally backed flood insurance to protect your property.
"While wildfires can't always be predicted, the flooding dangers that follow them can be," said Anthony Lowe, advisor to the Director for the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, which manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). "Homeowners, business owners and renters should take this opportunity to protect themselves against another disaster by purchasing federally backed flood insurance. In most cases, a family home and all its contents can be insured for less than it costs to insure a car."
Lowe pointed out that most floods are too small to qualify for federal disaster assistance, which is only available following a major disaster declaration by the President. Standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood losses, but National Flood Insurance does, and it pays claims regardless of whether or not there is a disaster declaration.
Even in a declared disaster, Lowe said, recovery assistance is usually in the form of a loan that has to be repaid, with interest. But the annual premium for a flood insurance policy is usually cheaper than the monthly payment on a disaster loan.
"A National Flood Insurance policy is the best defense against economic losses from flooding," Lowe said, "and property owners should seriously consider it even if they do not live in a Special Flood Hazard Area. In fact, one-fourth of all claims are from properties outside high-risk areas."
Under the NFIP, flood insurance is made available for property owners in communities that adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances that reduce future flood losses by regulating new construction. Currently, nearly 4.4 million policies are in force in approximately 20,000 participating communities, representing almost $608 billion worth of coverage. The NFIP is self-supporting; claims and operating expenses are paid from policyholder premiums, not taxpayer dollars.
Last Modified: Friday, 25-Jul-2003 14:42:06