Area Had Deluge Of Flood Insurance

The number of flood insurance policies tripled last year in North Idaho, according to the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

The number of policies increased 201 percent, from 2,850 to 8,508, from June 1996 to June 1997.

Nationally, the number of policies increased by 8.7 percent.

Fred Eisenbarth, the water resource agency’s flood plain manager, attributes the increase in Idaho to the severe flooding and threat of flooding last year.

The threat of flooding after the Boise foothills fire resulted in hundreds of new flood insurance policies being issued for that area alone.

The Department of Water Resources advises that now is a good time to purchase flood insurance, because it does not become effective until 30 days after purchase.

Last year, North Idaho experienced flooding in February.

, DataTimes