Costs, Confusion Keep Flood Insurance Numbers Low

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Jul 7, 2008 at 12:02 PM CST

Story Updated: Jul 7, 2008 at 12:02 PM CST

DES MOINES (AP) - A combination of costs and confusion keeps many Iowans from buying federal flood insurance.

Only about 1 percent of Iowans owned flood insurance when last month's record flooding struck.

More than 4,000 homes in Cedar Rapids were damaged or destroyed, but only 777 homes in Linn county were protected against flooding.

After the floods of 1993, the National Flood Insurance Program spent $20 million in a marketing campaign that urged homeowners to buy flood insurance. Nonetheless, few people carry the coverage.

Obstacles to buying the coverage include cost and uncertainty about who can get flood insurance.

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