PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA -- The Pima County Regional Flood Control District has produced a series of public service announcements intended to inform all County residents about the benefits of flood insurance and the risks posed by flash flooding, particularly to motor vehicles.
The 30- and 15-second PSAs feature District 2 Supervisor Ramón Valadez and each version was produced in English and Spanish to ensure the messages reach as wide an audience as possible.
Regular homeowners or business insurance policies do not typically cover losses caused by flooding. However, the federal government offers policies under the National Flood Insurance Program which are mandatory for all homes built in a federally-mapped (FEMA) floodplain and financed with federally-backed loans. Lenders pass the cost of the insurance requirement to the property owners. While not required for homes in locally mapped floodplains, the District recommends residents still obtain flood insurance.
Currently, the NFIP’s Community Rating System classifies Pima County as a Class 5 community which allows residents to purchase flood insurance at a 25-percent discount. The PSAs are part of an on-going effort to help the County qualify as Class 3 which would increase the discount to 35-percent.
“Flood insurance provides home and business owners, and renters, with piece of mind that their most valuable assets can be repaired or replaced if flooding happens,” District Chief Hydrologist Brian Jones said. “This is especially important information for new County residents who may not be familiar with the various flooding hazards typical of Southern Arizona.”
Two of the spots focus on the danger of flash flooding to drivers, something that unfortunately was hammered home August 12 when a man died after ignoring road closure barricades on South Old Nogales Highway then was swept downstream.
“While flooding can also make getting to work, school or home frustrating, we can’t say it enough- ‘turn around, don’t drown’,” Supervisor Valadez said. “It only takes about a two-feet of water to carry away even very large vehicles. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.”
The PSAs may be found on Pima County’s YouTube Channel. More information about flood insurance and safe driving during the Monsoon can be found on Regional Flood Control District's website.