As Hurricane Season Approaches, Play It Safe: Get Flood Insurance
Release Date: May 28, 2009
Release Number: 1604-718
» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina
BILOXI, Miss. -- With hurricane season less than a week away, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency encourage Mississippians to consider protecting their homes, businesses and valuables with a flood insurance policy.
And the sooner the better. There is a 30-day waiting period before a newly-purchased policy becomes effective.
"With another hurricane season upon us, flood insurance coverage is one way residents and business owners in Mississippi can be better prepared for future storms as we continue the recovery and rebuilding process following Hurricane Katrina," said Alec Watson, acting director of FEMA's Mississippi Transitional Office.
The only requirement for purchasing a policy is that the policyholder resides in a community participating in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program.
Flood insurance is available to homeowners, business owners and renters. Policies offer up to $250,000 in building coverage and $100,000 in contents coverage for homeowners and up to $500,000 for business owners at an average cost of $550 per year. Premiums are substantially less in moderate and low flood risk zones.
To purchase flood insurance, residents should contact their insurance agents. To locate an agent who sells flood insurance in your area, go to www.floodsmart.gov and enter your home address into the One-Step Flood Risk Profile. This online tool will also estimate your level of risk as well as your premium.
A risk profile is only meant to be used as an advisory tool for general flood hazard awareness and education. Do not use this information to make final decisions regarding the purchase of flood insurance. If your home has been mortgaged, your lender will make that determination.
To determine your actual flood risk, go to FEMA's Map Service Center www.msc.fema.gov and view the latest flood map for your community. To view a physical copy of the map, contact the floodplain administrator in your local building and permits department. A Flood Insurance Rate Map is the best source for determining your flood risk.
"The entire state of Mississippi is a mapped flood zone, with low, moderate, and high risk zones," said MEMA Director Mike Womack. "Every individual is urged to find out what their flood risk is."
For questions concerning coverage, contact your local insurance agents or the NFIP Call Center in Biloxi, Miss. at 1-866-925-8789. To determine if your community participates in the NFIP, go to www.fema.gov/fema/csb.shtm.
| Bay St. Louis | Biloxi |
| Josh Hayes | Richard Stickler |
| Jennifer Patin | 228-435-6280 |
| 228-466-5517 | 676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. |
| 688 U.S. Highway 90 | Blvd. |
| Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 | Biloxi, MS 39533 |
| D'Iberville | Gautier |
| Hank Rogers | Paul Fox |
| 228-392-7966 | 228-497-1878 |
| 10383 Automall Pkwy. | 3305 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. |
| D'iberville, MS 39540 | Gautier, MS 39553 |
| Gulfport | Hancock County |
| Jonathan Smith | Jerry Beaugez |
| 228-868-5790 | Terry Snell |
| 1410 24th Avenue | 228-467-4157 |
| Gulfport, MS 39501 | 3068 Longfellow Dr., Trailer #15 |
| Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 | |
| Harrison County | Jackson County |
| Richard Herrin | Ben Taylor |
| 228-832-1622 | 228-769-7114 |
| 15309 Community Rd. | 2902 Shortcut Rd., Bldg. A |
| Gulfport, MS 39503 | Pascagoula, MS 39567 |
| Long Beach | Moss Point |
| Earl Levens | Paul Sistrunk |
| 228-863-1554 | 228-475-0300 |
| 645 Klondyke Rd. | 4412 Denny Ave. |
| Long Beach, MS 39560 | Moss Point, MS 39563 |
| Ocean Springs | Pascagoula |
| Terry Agar | Steve Mitchell |
| 228-875-6712 | 228-372-6835 |
| 1018 Porter Ave. | 4015 14th Street |
| Ocean Springs, MS 39564 | Pascagoula, MS 39567 |
| Pass Christian | Waveland |
| Gene Peralta | Brent Anderson |
| 228-452-3316 | 228-466-2549 |
| 203 Fleitas Ave. | 407 Highway 90. |
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
Last Modified: Thursday, 28-May-2009 15:27:41