Eastland County Residents and Businesses Now Eligible for Maximum Flood Insurance Coverage 

Release Date: September 8, 2007
Release Number: 1709-083

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WACO, Texas -- Residents of unincorporated areas of Eastland County are now able to purchase up to the maximum coverage of flood insurance, following action taken by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA administers the federally-funded National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). As of Sept. 1, residents of unincorporated areas of Eastland County became eligible under NFIP rules to purchase up to the maximum allowable coverage of $250,000 for structures and $100,000 for contents. Renters may buy up to $100,000 in content coverage. Businesses are eligible for higher amounts of coverage. Flood insurance policies pay claims even if a disaster is not declared by the President.

Until Sept. 1, Eastland County residents could not purchase more than $35,000 in flood insurance.

"This is a great leap forward," said Eastland County Judge Rex Fields. "It's a great blessing to get this $35,000 cap removed." He said the county found itself "in some kind of a time warp. We didn't have enough flood coverage."

Eastland County is one of 43 Texas counties where residents are eligible for FEMA disaster recovery assistance. President Bush declared the counties as major disaster areas for flooding that occurred between June 16 and Aug. 3. Although the upgrade in Eastland County's flood insurance is now available, the insurance coverage does not take effect until 30 days after purchase.

"I commend Judge Field's and Congressman Randy Neugebauer's leadership in pursuing the upgraded flood insurance coverage for Eastland County," said Kenneth Clark, Federal Coordinating Officer for the disaster. "Now residents and businesses need to take advantage of the improved coverage and purchase flood insurance policies to protect themselves in future disasters."

The flooding occurred at Lake Leon, a reservoir about 80 miles west of Fort Worth, created in the 1950s to provide the water supply for the towns of Eastland and Ranger. Judge Fields said 217 lakeshore homes were damaged or destroyed in late June, during five days of unprecedented rain. The water level eventually rose 10.5 feet above the main spillway of the dam and even rose above the higher emergency spillway.

Another ally in the quest for increased flood insurance was Don Wilson, City Manager for nearby Eastland, TX, which already had its own fully-compliant flood insurance map.

Wilson had a ring-side seat to the flood. His house is on Lake Leon. "I built my house up where I never thought I'd have to worry about a flood," Wilson said. "But my neighbor had about 30 inches of water inside his house."

"It just changed my whole outlook as far as living at Lake Leon," he said.

Now that the restrictions have been lifted, Wilson said, "All I've got to say is thank you, thank you, thank you."

Meanwhile, the county has been doing its part to help people restore their lives. Judge Fields said that Eastland County has finished removing flood debris. FEMA reimburses the county for 75 percent of the costs of disposing of flood debris.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Monday, 10-Sep-2007 08:57:37