Lake Delton

[low_delta]

I assume by now, you've seen pictures or video of Lake Delton sweeping a few homes down a river that it had just made. If not, see this. "Home Swept Down River" has the most dramatic video.

Three homes were washed completely away, and two more homes broke in half and are partly gone. Possibly worse, they can't rebuild because the land is gone too. That's why the houses are gone - the ground was washed out from underneath them. see picture

Now here's the kicker.

These people weren't insured. I don't fully understand what the deal is, and I think that's because nobody fully understands it - at least nobody who's talking. Something about a dispute with FEMA back in 2001. The village withdrew from the free national flood insurance program. But Lake Delton Village Engineer John Langhans said the village didn't enroll with the program because FEMA's new maps in 2001 had "gross inaccuracies" when it came to the designated floodplain level. There were discussions with FEMA and the WI DNR in the last couple of years, and the village decided to reapply for the program just two weeks ago. Not soon enough.

Here's the story

Comments

[seamusd.livejournal.com]

Welcome to George W. Bush's Amerika!

[marswalker.livejournal.com]

On the news yesterday they were interviewing one of the folks.

He said "We weren't allowed to buy flood insurance because of the dam - it's supposed to always be protected and controlled and never flood, so we couldn't buy it."

[shoo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I watched that interview as well...Glad you mentioned it. He sounded like he was going to sue and didn't want to talk about it on tv.

[marswalker.livejournal.com]

Yep. I can't blame him.

Problem with suing the gov't - they get do decide if you can.

He'll probably sue the insurance folks, and they'll hide behind the law.

[raven-nest.livejournal.com]

OH man! That is terrible! Not surprising though, sadly.

[northernsnokat.livejournal.com]

There are more little communities then you think who don't want to be in a flood plain and so petition FEMA to be out and not be in it. It only hurts those who live there certainly not FEMA. I am not sure of the legalities of why someone still could not buy flood insurance if they wanted to. Everyone can buy flood insurance whether you are in a high, low, or nonexistent flood plain.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I doesn't surprise me to hear that insurance companies won't insure someone who lives in an area that's highly prone to flooding. At least I assume that's what's going on. The FEMA insurance program backs up the insurers with federal money.

[northernsnokat.livejournal.com]

Nope..has nothing to do with the insurance companies as FEMA has their own program. Anyone who wants flood insurance can get it with the right documentation or enough $$$. There are only a few insurance companies that administer the FEMA plan. FEMA sets up the rules and the companies that agree to administer follow them. People can also get flood insurance directly from FEMA but what a hassle without a middle man. As an insurance agent, I hate to sell flood insurance because FEMA has made it so complicated! Flood insurance does not cover everything and only up to a certain limit that FEMA has dictated. The whole FEMA system needs to be scrapped and done over!

[roadskoller.livejournal.com]

That's insane. And now they know how New Orleans feels.