Searchers Look for 2 Missing People After Alabama Flood

Tornado strewn debris and fallen trees in this Columbus, Miss., neighborhood, Sunday morning, Feb. 24, 2019 Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo

Authorities are searching for two people believed missing on waterways swollen by days of heavy rain in Alabama.

Crews are looking along the Cahaba River near Birmingham for a woman who disappeared Sunday. A spokesman with Cahaba Valley Fire and Rescue says her vehicle was found near the river, but crews don’t know where she is.

In northeast Alabama, authorities say a teenage boy is still missing days after the vehicle he was riding in was swept off a bridge by floodwaters from a creek at Bucks Pocket State Park.

Marshall County emergency management officials say two other teens who were riding in a Jeep were found clinging to a tree after the vehicle foundered in water Friday.

Police have used a helicopter and drone to search for the missing youth.

Residents are using boats to reach flooded-out neighborhoods and schools are shut down after days of torrential rains in north Alabama.

Charles Lowery of Columbus, Miss., rescues carved stands from the remains of his home, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, following Saturday's tornado. Lowery lamented not staying at home and protecting his property as his home was looted that evening. AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

The sun was out Monday in most of the Tennessee Valley, but dozens of roads are closed because of flooding. Brick homes stand amid muddy Tennessee River waters in Muscle Shoals.

The National Weather Service says many areas got around 10 inches of rain last week, and some spots received more than 12 inches.

The city of Decatur says water levels already have exceeded 100-year levels and could rise another 2-feet. Schools are closed in at least a half-dozen systems in the region.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a state of emergency allowing the state to assist with disaster response.

Downed telephone poles on 15th Street in Columbus, Miss., Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, following Saturday's tornado. Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Pastor Steve Blaylock looks over the broken lumber, loose paneling, insulation, and destroyed pews in the First Pentecostal Church in Columbus, Miss., Sunday morning, Feb. 24, 2019 after a Saturday tornado. Rogelio V. Solis/AP

How to Wade Into the Daunting Waters of Flood Insurance

Many people decide to invest in flood insurance policies after a scary weather event. But sometimes they let the insurance lapse because it is too expensive, and also because they might misunderstand that familiar term from news and weather reports, “100-year flood.”

It is natural to think that “100-year flood” means that once a big flood hits, you then have 99 more years before you have to worry about another one. But what it actually refers to is a flood event that has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year, said Lynne McChristian, consultant with the Insurance Information Institute and a professor of risk management at Florida State University.

Even the U.S. government, which provides funding for the National Flood Insurance Program (floodsmart.gov), is examining whether flood insurance is worth the cost. The 50-year-old program was set to expire by July 31, but Congress on July 31 approved a stopgap extension hours before the deadline to take it through hurricane season.

With so many recent flooding disasters—from hurricanes Sandy, Harvey, and Maria to unnamed ones like the waters that overtook Ellicott City, Maryland, in May—payouts are huge, raising the cost of premiums.

Since flood insurance tends to be bought only by certain residents of the most danger-prone areas, it is expensive because the risk pool is not large enough to spread around the cost. The NFIP has only about 5 million policies in force, despite the fact that flooding can hit any part of the United States at any time, even if it is only a creek overflow or sewer backup.

Fine Print

The biggest mistake people make with flood insurance is that they believe it is included with their homeowners’ policy. In reality, it is specifically excluded.

While the lack of coverage is usually noted in a footnote on annual declarations for homeowners’ policies, some states are making an effort to better inform consumers. Florida, for instance, mandates that policy statements point this out in big bold letters.

Many homeowners also think that in the event of flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will come to their aid. Yet FEMA grants come into play only in major disasters, and even then they will likely not cover the cost to rebuild your home. Most funds available to homeowners are in the form of loans.

For those who do wade into the flood insurance process, the government is not the only option, said Craig Poulton, an insurance consultant based in Utah. Private companies broker policies for the National Flood Insurance Program, and there are also fully private policies, underwritten by insurance companies.

On average, homeowners pay $700 annually for flood insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The NFIP will insure only up to $250,000 in losses, but private insurance can go into the millions.

The amount is largely determined by the flood map for your area, which assigns risk zones. These are drawn with very broad strokes—not gerrymandered like political precincts.

How to Save

First, decide what risk you are willing to take and how much you are comfortable spending for protection.

The best way to save is to obtain a flood elevation certificate specifically for your house, which could cost from $500 to $800 from a survey company or engineer.

If you live in a high-risk area but happen to be in a safer section, you could shave hundreds of dollars a year off your insurance bill.

Some municipalities are jumping in to help residents get these certificates. New York City, for one, has a pilot program funded by Hurricane Sandy recovery money to provide free certificates for homeowners, said Rachel Stein, deputy director of sustainability and resiliency for the Center for NYC Neighborhoods.

Another way to lower costs is to install flood vents in your crawl spaces to help give the water a path to exit your house instead of building up.

When purchasing flood insurance, you could also consider a policy to cover just the structure of your house and not the contents to save money. It is a risky move if a flood hits, because if water comes into your house, all of your stuff will be soggy.

Reuters contributed to this article