Is Your Home Safe?

Recently, I was at a fundraiser at Joey's Comedy Club in Livonia that was helping a Michigan couple stationed in Minot, N.D. who lost their home to flooding. They lost everything when their home was covered with eight feet of water–yes, EIGHT FEET of water. They have a 1-year-old son with a child on the way and now, NO HOME! And no flood insurance, as they weren't in a flood plain.

So my husband and I had a great dinner with friends then laughed until at one point we cried from laughter. When it was all done, we got into our vehicle and we went home.

And it hit me: I have a home. I looked around and saw all my "things." I looked at my son sleeping in his bed. I petted my dogs. I realized that I am taking all I have for granted. Not purposefully, but with eyes of it "couldn't or wouldn't happen to me."

Minot's flooding is being called the 500-year flood as something that could not happen. And because "it could never happen," many of those rsidents do not have flood insurance.

According to the National Association of Realtors, floods claimed more lives and property than any other natural disasters in the U.S. over the last century. And right now, the National Flood Insurance Program is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2011. Without NFIP, there would be more uninsured and unmitigated properties that taxpayers would still be "on the hook" for disaster assistance. And according to the Congressional Budget Office, even with the 2005 loan balance currently at $18 billion, re-authorization would not add to the federal budget deficit.

So when you go home, look around, imagine it with eight feet of water–basically up to your ceilings. See your things floating and destroyed. Then take action: Call or write Congress and urge them to reauthorize NFIP for the long-term to ensure access to affordable flood insurance. It only takes a few minutes of your time but could save someone's home.