July 27, 2010
By: Bruce Berry
The catastrophic failure of the Lake Delhi dam in eastern Iowa has caused widespread flooding and forced the evacuation of numerous homes. In its wake, many area residents are questioning why some local governments declined to participate in federal home insurance programs that protect against flood damage, according to the Des Moines Register.
The newspaper reports that Delaware County, one area most affected by the dam's failure on Saturday, did not join the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program despite repeated requests from both federal and state officials.
The decision could leave some area residents in a precarious position, both personally and financially, unless President Barack Obama issues a disaster declaration for the region. This, according to the Register, would make some assistance available to homeowners, though less than would have been available had NFIP coverage been active.
Iowa has seen several major floods over the course of the past two decades, including one in 1993 that forced the evacuation of parts of downtown Des Moines, and another in 2008 that affected large areas of the University of Iowa's arts campus in Iowa City.
Related Home Insurance Articles:
- NOAA predicts near-normal Eastern Pacific hurricane season May 25, 2012
- Safety officials call attention to home sprinkler system regulations May 24, 2012
- Thousands of St. Louis insurance claims cite recent hail damage May 22, 2012
- Tropical Storm Alberto changes course away from Carolinas May 21, 2012
- California tops the nation in dog bite claims May 17, 2012
