EMERGENCY SERVICES ADVISES RESIDENTS TO BUY FLOOD INSURANCE

State flood maps are not entirely accurate according to the West Virginia Office of Emergency Services, therefore it has issued a warning to residents saying that they could live in a hazardous area without even knowing it.

OES told residents living near small streams to consider buying low-cost flood insurance.

The Mountain State has 32,278 miles of streams, but even maps that show small waterways don’t accurately show where the flood plains are located.

According to OES, this results in a lot of flood damage in areas where people thought they were safe. The office advised residents to purchase flood insurance from local insurance agents and referred anyone in need of information to log onto www.floodsmart.gov.