MSD Project Clear Encourages St. Louis Residents to ‘Know Your Zone’, Protect Their Homes From Flooding

The average flood damage claim for homeowners and renters exceeds $35,000 in damages, residents without insurance in low-risk flood zones receive one-third of disaster assistance for flooding.

(April 8, 2020) – Floods are the most common and most costly natural disaster.  The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD Project Clear or MSDPC) is reminding residents in its service area of the impact of flooding with its annual Know Your Zone initiative to increase overall flood zone awareness.

“Each St. Louis resident lives in a flood zone,” Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Executive Director Brian Hoelscher said.   “We strongly encourage all our customers to protect their families, homes, and personal keepsakes by going to KnowYourZone.org to learn about flood insurance and find out what level of flood zone they live in.”

Overland flooding can occur anywhere, even in areas where there are no nearby waterways. Excessive rainfall in a short timeframe can quickly cause creeks, streams, and drainage ways to overflow and cause a building or home to flood.

“MSD doesn’t manage overland flooding, nor do we cover overland flooding under any of our insurance programs,” Hoelscher said. “However, customers have turned to us during floods and we encourage all customers to protect themselves and look into whether or not they should obtain flood insurance through their homeowners, renters or other insurance policy.  If a customer is seeking information about flood insurance, they should contact an insurance company or agent.”

St. Louis residents can go to KnowYourZone.org to determine the level of flood zone they live in and find out more about how to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.  KnowYourZone.org also has more information about preferred risk insurance policies for residents in moderate-to-low risk flood zone areas and options for obtaining flood insurance through current homeowners, renters or other insurance policies.

“Despite being a land locked state, the St. Louis region is rich in water resources and all residents living in the MSD service area live in either a low-to-moderate or high risk flood zone,” Hoelscher said. “The average flood damage claim for homeowners and renters exceeds $35,000 in damages and either normal insurance policies or MSD programs do not protect our homes from flood damages.”

For more information go to KnowYourZone.org. If you would like to view St. Louis County flood zones go to maps.stlouisco.com/propertyview