For more info on this and other stories, visit www.newsinfusion.com Now is the time to be FloodSmart! Washington, D.C. (January 2009) – Heavy seasonal rain and recent wildfire damage can make for a disastrous combination. Winter Rainy Season in the Northwestern United States brings intense winter storms and the majority of annual precipitation to the region. In addition, widespread wildfires this past year have burned more than 1.6 million acres of land in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Wildfires leave the ground charred, barren and unable to absorb water. This substantially increases the risk for severe flooding and mudflow. The coming months have the potential to bring both heavy rain and snowmelt which, coupled with wildfire damage, could result in catastrophic flooding. Many residents incorrectly believe that homeowners insurance covers flood damage. Only flood insurance protects properties from post-wildfire flooding and mudflow damage. Despite heightened risks, an average of only two percent of the households in this region of the country have flood insurance coverage.
