Orange : Subsidy on Insurance for Floods Available

The city has been accepted as a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program, which will allow residents to purchase flood insurance subsidized by the federal government.

Homeowners who want coverage should get in touch with their insurance agency, a city official said.

“The Santa Ana River has been termed by the Army Corps of Engineers as a sleeping giant, and has the potential of being the second-largest flood threat west of the Mississippi River,” said Mayor Jess Perez, who is encouraging residents to investigate the program.

“Because we live in an arid climate, we tend to forget that the Santa Ana River conveys the winter runoff from the eastern counties and has been subject to major flooding at least three times in the last century. No one can predict where the 100-year storm will send water levels cascading over the Santa Ana River levee, with its attendant devastation.”

There are two categories of flood insurance, delineated by the property’s location and its risk of flooding.

One category includes properties in Zone A, the area immediately adjacent to a major water course, such as the Santa Ana River or Santiago Creek, which may be subject to flooding during a major storm. Properties in the second category include Zone B and Zone C areas, which are less prone to flooding because they are located farther away from waterways. The second category carries lower insurance rates.

Property owners can find out their flood zone by calling the city’s engineering division at (714) 532-0447. The city staff can only provide information about the flood zone. All details about insurance rates and categories must be obtained from insurance companies.