Time is ticking for all homeowners in the Natomas area. Increased Flood insurance premiums will officially take effect on December 8, 2008. The maps have been redrawn by FEMA and Natomas will become an AE zone which means that flood insurance will be at a substantially higher cost after December 8th.

The deadline for Natomas homeowners and new home buyers purchasing a house in Natomas is December 8^th so make sure that you get your flood insurance before that date, otherwise you may be paying 3 times the amount you would today.

All federally backed home loans will require the homeowner and home buyer to have flood insurance and some private lenders, as well.

Don't shop for flood insurance rates. The rates are federally set. There is only ONE rate and it must be paid in full. Flood insurance can not be paid in installments but you can put it on your credit card.  Call your current homeowners insurance company and tell them you need flood insurance ASAP. Don't become a victim, be pro-active as a responsible homeowner.

The great thing is that as long as you get your flood insurance BEFORE December 8, 2008 you will be "grandfathered" in. This means that no matter how much flood insurance goes up, or is re zoned you will only pay the current rate which is substantially lower than what it will be later. This applies ONLY as long as you stay current and pay your flood insurance policy each year, on time. If you sell your house or condo, the home buyer buying your home  or condo can purchase your less expensive flood insurance policy. This will be a great coup for those homeowners selling their house or condos later.

I have to admit that I found the FEMA maps to be user-unfriendly. The instructions say to write in your street address on the left side of the FEMA Map Service Center, click the icon to view the map and then simply use the zoom tool to zoom into your neighborhood. Sounds simple but difficult to determine streets and neighborhoods.

I must say the Sac Bee didn't do any better job but at least you can try to figure out where your neighborhood might be. According to the Sac Bee the following are the depths of flooding that would occur if the levees were to break.

• Natomas  26 feet of water  
• North Sacramento 23 feet of water 
• W. Del Paso Heights 17 feet
• Campus Commons 15 feet of water
• River Park 15 feet of water
• Land Park 11 feet of water
• Pocket-Greenhaven 10 feet of water

This is nothing to mess around with, get your flood insurance while the costs are down and "grandfather" your payment for the home buyer that may come along to buy your house before the levee repairs are completed.

For further information call National Flood Services at 1-800-637-3846

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