Severe Weather Awareness Week

Severe Weather Awareness Week 2007 in Louisiana is March 4 – 10. It is an excellent opportunity to increase awareness and help residents better prepare for what Mother Nature can bring throughout the year. Hurricanes and flooding are recurrent dangers for the state of Louisiana, with one of the most vulnerable coastlines to flooding nationwide.

Louisiana’s close proximity to the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico as well as the 50 rivers, streams and bayous across the state, leave many of the 4.5 million residents at an increased risk for flooding. Furthermore, flooding can affect residents year round - hurricanes and inland moving tropical storms are a constant flood risk in the summer and fall, and heavy rain storms threaten the state with flooding in the winter and spring months. You don't have to live on a coast to be at risk - just inches of flood water can cause thousands of dollars in damage.

To help residents prepare, FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program encourages everyone to learn their flood risk and consider their flood insurance options. Most homeowners insurance does not cover floods and there is typically a 30-day wait before a flood insurance policy becomes effective.

For more information you can visit www.FloodSmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419 to learn their individual flood risk and find an insurance agent to discuss protection options. If you have any questions or would like to speak with a representative from FEMA, please feel free to contact FEMA Public Affairs at (202) 646-4600 or David Passey, Region VI Public Information Officer, at (940) 898-5287.