Potential Flood Redesignation Would Result in Mandatory, More Costly Insurance

As part of a national effort to update all Flood Insurance Rate Maps, the maps which show the level of flood protection in any given location, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the process of re-evaluating the level of protection provided by all existing flood protection systems in the country. The City of West Sacramento is currently shown by FEMA as being in a Zone X Flood Designation. Zone X applies to areas with less than 1 percent chance of flooding in any given year (100-year protection).

Flood insurance in West Sacramento is currently optional, though the city encourages anyone living behind a levee to maintain current flood insurance. If remapped out of the X Zone and into an A, AE, AR or A-99 Zone, flood insurance will become mandatory for all federally guaranteed mortgage loans, which includes nearly all bank, credit union and commercial loans. The purchase of voluntary flood insurance now would allow property owners to obtain a much lower rate than would otherwise be charged for mandatory flood insurance after the re-mapping. Please talk to your insurance agent for details.

In the event of a remapping by FEMA into a category other than a Zone X, future flood protection improvements would expedite a return to a Zone X Flood Designation.

National Flood Insurance Program presentations are broadcast on West Sacramento Charter Cable channel 20, every Sunday at 5 p.m. and every Monday at 7 p.m. View the presentation in Windows Media Player.

Get more information on the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov