Moonsoons are coming!
Residents living outside Gallup can now
get flood insurance

By Bill Donovan
Staff writer

GALLUP — McKinley County residents outside Gallup can now buy affordable flood insurance, county officials said last week.

County officials have been working to get acceptance by the National Flood Insurance Program, said Mark Diaz, head of the county’s emergency management department.

While flood insurance has been available to city businesses and residences since 1978 when the city joined the NFIP, the county did not express an interest in getting involved in the program until floods hit the Churchrock area a couple of years ago.

Since then the county began looking into the possibility and adopted a series of new ordinances dealing with homes that exist in the county’s flood plains, which made it possible for the county to be accepted by NFIP.

What this means for county residents is that flood insurance is now available, said Diaz, with the average family paying about $500 per year for coverage.

Bob Fultz, head of the local Clay-Fultz Insurance Agency, said the cost will vary depending on the value of the house but for those families who live on a flood plain.

“It’s a wise investment,” Fultz said.

He also pointed out that if county residents get a mortgage, they may be required to get flood insurance.

Right now, residents of the county will be able to purchase flood insurance up to the limits under the Emergency Phase of the program.

Diaz said there is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance goes into effect.

For single-family dwellings, the building coverage limit is $35,000 with an additional limit of $10,000 for contents. For commercial properties, the buildings and contents coverage limits are $100,000 each. Renters can also protect their belongings by purchasing contents coverage.

Higher limits will be available after the initial emergency phase.

Diaz said that while flooding is not very common in this area, homes in the flood plains are at risk because of flash floods or floods caused by melting snow in the mountain areas.

The county doesn’t supply the insurance itself, he said. Instead, homeowners or renters should go to the various private insurance companies in the area, such as Clay-Fultz, that provide it.