Flood insurance important

The deadline to purchase flood insurance at a cheaper rate passed on Tuesday. Hopefully, everyone who was supposed to buy the insurance got the opportunity to do so before the deadline.

Meanwhile the county continues to pursue its claim against the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an attempt to get the flood maps revised to reflect reality in Carson Valley.

According to FloodSmart.gov, an annual premium for a $250,000 home in the B, C or X flood zones could cost up to $1,400 a year.

That's a considerable chunk of change to plunk down if you're really not subject to flooding.

The county is objecting to the federal government's mapping technique, which resulted in 1,400 parcels on the east side of Carson Valley being added to the flood plain.

Homeowners with a mortgage will be required to purchase the insurance by their lenders, if they fall within the new flood zone.

But just because the maps may be in question, doesn't mean that everyone who received one of the 3,000 flood map notices sent out by the county is out of the flood plain.

Flood insurance serves an important purpose for those people who need it, and sometimes that need isn't immediately obvious. We agree with the county that the feds need to take a second look at their maps, so that only those folks who actually need the insurance have to pay for it.