Buy Flood Insurance, Wisconsin Officials Tell Homeowners

State emergency officials want homeowners to get flood insurance.

Flooding in August 2007 caused $112.4 million in damage to property and crops. Another round of floods in June 2008 caused more than $765 million. Wisconsin Emergency Management says those floods were the costliest natural disaster in state history.

The agency says flooding is possible again this spring. The water table in most of southern Wisconsin is still above normal after last spring’s floods and heavy snow in December.

Wisconsin Emergency Management says homeowners insurance typically doesn’t cover floods and less than 50 percent of floods qualify for federal disaster assistance.

People can contact the National Flood Insurance Program for more information at www.floodsmart.gov or at 1-800-427-2419.