July 11, 2011
By: Carrie Van Brunt-Wiley
A high number of claims for home insurance have already been submitted this year due to flood damage, and a report says this summer could see even higher water levels.
The National Weather Service reported the 2011 summer flooding season could rival the historic stretch from April to August 1993, when nine states suffered $25 billion in flood damage. It wouldn't take much rain to push rivers and lakes to historic levels, said the report, since this spring left U.S. soils soaked and water levels high.
"There is nowhere for any additional water to go," said Jack Hayes, director of the National Weather Service. "While unusual for this time of year, all signs point to the flood threat continuing."
The report said areas of North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa could be at the highest risk for flooding, since rives and other bodies of water in those states have already been inundated with heavy spring rains.
More flooding could exacerbate an already problematic financial situation in North Dakota. Recent reports show many victims of flooding lacked flood insurance.
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