Flood insurance policies

The situation along the Gulf Coast has some Tulsa homeowners thinking about flood insurance. Agents say they haven't been "flooded" with calls, but inquiries are up in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Tuesday, September 13th 2005, 10:34 am

By: News On 6

The situation along the Gulf Coast has some Tulsa homeowners thinking about flood insurance. Agents say they haven't been "flooded" with calls, but inquiries are up in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson says we don't have to worry about hurricanes here, but that doesn't mean we don't have potential flooding problems.

Laureen Gibson Gilroy in the city of Tulsaâ€™s Public Works Department has flood maps. There are areas across the city of Tulsa that have the potential for flood damage. Gilroy says too much rain in one place at one time can overwhelm the protective measures the city has in place.

She says that's especially true if you live near one of the city's many creeks. The danger isn't in the creek overflowing, but all the water that may run through your property on its way to the creek. "It's more likely that your house is going to be flooded than it is going to burn. Would you decide not to get fire insurance on your house?â€

Some insurance agents say it's easier to sell an "earthquake" insurance policy in Tulsa, than it is flood insurance.

Along with the expense, the reason many homeowners don't get flood insurance is because they don't realize flooding isn't covered on their home insurance policy and it is a lesson no one wants to learn the hard way.