HELENA, Mont (NMB) – Insurance Commissioner Matt Rosendale is advising Montanans to prepare for spring flooding by purchasing flood insurance well in advance of warmer temperatures and snowmelt.
Flood insurance policies typically do not take effect until 30 days after purchase, so people should plan ahead for properties at risk of flooding.
Flooding is the number one natural disaster in the US and there are many misconceptions about flood insurance. There is no guarantee that floods will be declared a disaster to open up federal assistance. Most homeowner’s policies do not cover flood insurance, and about 20 to 25 percent of all flood claims come outside of a high-risk flood area.
The average flood claim in Montana is nearly $13,000.
For more information on flood prone areas and additional resources, visit DNRC’s floodplain management website.
