Homeowners in a South Dakota County Won’t See Flood Insurance Surcharge

More than 400 homeowners whose property lies along the Missouri River in southeast South Dakota are no longer facing a potential surcharge on their flood insurance.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency had threated to charge $50 to those homeowners in Union County after accusing officials of not having adequate record keeping and failing to manage development in the floodplain.

The federal agency on Wednesday said county officials met a Monday deadline to submit documents addressing the violations.

The construction of basements in the mapped floodplain area is among the issues identified by the agency. Basements are banned in the floodplain.

The National Flood Insurance Program, a part of FEMA, underwrites flood insurance policies sold by commercial insurance companies. Union County joined the program in 1977.