GREAT FALLS — The Montana Commissioner of Securities & Insurance (CSI) said in a news release that the recent snow across the state and ice on the lakes and rivers makes now a good time to think about preparing for possible flooding.
Commissioner Troy Downing said flood insurance is not always included in a standard home insurance policy and may not start right away.
In a news release, Downing said that last week we saw significant snowfall across the Montana. While noting this is good news for farmers, this could pose a flood risk when we have the inevitable spring runoff.
"Last June, the Yellowstone river near Edgar hit a record high crest damaging property and surrounding homes with floodwater. Take time to evaluate your risk of flood damage." Downing said. "Now is the time to review your property insurance. Are you in an area where there is a risk of flooding? If so, now is a good time to make sure you're insured for flood damage. In many cases, the lead time from when you place the insurance and having coverage is thirty days. Flood insurance is not something you can purchase last minute."
He added, "We saw about $600,000 in flood premium written in Montana last year. My belief is that we're undercovered for flood risk. The message that I want to get out there is Montana consumers should look seriously at what their risk is.”
If you want to learn more about flood insurance, visit FloodSmart.gov. For tips on how to assess your risk and prepare for flooding, click here to visit the CSI website.
