PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
610 AM CDT THU MAR 19 2009

...DAY 4 OF 2009 NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...

YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INVITES YOUR PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL
FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK, MARCH 16-20, 2009.

TODAY`S FLOOD SAFETY THEME IS DETERMINING YOUR FLOOD RISK AND BUYING
FLOOD INSURANCE TO PROTECT AGAINST LOSS. EVERYONE LIVES IN A FLOOD
ZONE...WHETHER THAT RISK BE LOW...MODERATE...OR HIGH. OVER A TYPICAL
30-YEAR HOME MORTGAGE...FLOODS ARE NEARLY THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO
OCCUR THAN A FIRE. PUT ANOTHER WAY...YOUR HOME HAS THE SAME CHANCE
OF BEING FLOODED AS YOUR CAR BEING STOLEN...YET FEW PEOPLE HAVE
FLOOD INSURANCE. EVEN LOW HAZARD FLOOD AREAS ARE AT RISK...ABOUT ONE
IN THREE FLOOD INSURANCE CLAIMS EACH YEAR ARE PAID TO HOMEOWNERS
LIVING OUTSIDE OF HIGH-RISK AREAS.

YOU MAY THINK HOMEOWNER`S INSURANCE COVERS FLOODS...BUT IN REALITY
MOST HOMEOWNER`S INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER FLOODING...AND JUST A FEW
INCHES OF WATER CAN CAUSE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE.
HOMEOWNERS...RENTERS...AND BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO PURCHASE
FLOOD INSURANCE AS LONG AS THEIR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATES IN THE
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM OR N-F-I-P.

THE N-F-I-P IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM ENABLING PROPERTY OWNERS TO
PURCHASE FLOOD INSURANCE AT REASONABLE RATES. IT TAKES 30 DAYS
AFTER PURCHASE FOR A POLICY TO TAKE EFFECT...SO IT IS IMPORTANT
TO BUY INSURANCE BEFORE FLOODS THREATEN. NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY
FLOOD INSURANCE AHEAD OF THE SUMMER SEVERE STORM AND HURRICANE
SEASONS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY WEB
SITE AT:

WWW.FLOODSMART.GOV

TO BUY FLOOD INSURANCE...CONTACT AN INSURANCE AGENT IN YOUR AREA.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLOOD
WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...AND FLOOD SAFETY IS AVAILABLE AT:

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/FLOODSAFETY

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