Disasters - The Difference Between Fire And Water

[Zhukov]

Ben Franklin Had the Right Idea for New Orleans

By JOHN TIERNEY
Published: September 3, 2005

Why is New Orleans in so much worse shape today than New York City was after the attacks on Sept. 11?

The short answer is that New York was attacked by fire, not water. But then why are urbanites so much better prepared to cope with fire than with flooding? Mostly because they learned to fight fire without any help from the Army Corps of Engineers or the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

For most of history, fire was far more feared than flooding. Cities repeatedly burned to the ground. Those catastrophes occurred sporadically enough that politicians must have been tempted to skimp on fire protection - like levee maintenance, it was a long-term investment against a calamity that probably wouldn't occur before they left office.

But urbanites learned to protect themselves through two innovations Benjamin Franklin introduced to America. He started a fire department in Philadelphia, as well as its first fire insurance company. Other cities followed, often with the firefighters organized by insurance companies with a vested interest in encouraging public safety.

Edited for our Copyright Policy - KK

Email: [email protected]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/03/o...rials and Op-Ed/Op-Ed/Columnists/John Tierney

 

[dilloduck]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/03/o...rials and Op-Ed/Op-Ed/Columnists/John Tierney

 

[spacisbat]

Good post. I appreciate it
Many thanks to ur post. I love it.
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Thanks so much in deed.

 

[JW Frogen]

New Orleans suffered because the dykes forgot how to lick the water.

I blame Christian fundementalism.

 

[Emma]

USATODAY.com - Flood insurance available if you're rich


For the first time, a handful of insurance companies are rolling out comprehensive flood insurance in the USA — but only to a limited population of people with expensive homes who don't live in the highest-risk flood areas.

If you're a homeowner who lives along the coast or you don't have deep pockets, don't expect to get this coverage.

Fireman's Fund and Chubb have begun offering the flood coverage to upscale homeowners to cover the cost of replacing a home. AIG has been selling a similar policy to wealthy customers since 2004.

Sales of flood insurance have been picking up since Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma swept through the Gulf Coast last year, causing devastating wind and water damage. Flood insurance, for decades offered only by the federal government, covers water damage that seeps in from the bottom of a house; general homeowner policies typically cover only wind and rain damage that comes in through other parts of a house.

Until recently, private companies have shied away from flood insurance. When they did offer it, it was only after the government's policy had kicked in. (The government's insurance provides only up to $250,000 in flood damage to the structure and $100,000 in damage to its contents.) But some private insurers are now betting they'll be able to profit by offering higher-priced policies in areas less prone to floods.
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Insurance Advice-Flood Insurance

MOST FLOOD INSURANCE IS SOLD THROUGH A FEDERAL PROGRAM

Almost all flood insurance written for homes in this country is part of the National Flood Insurance Program ("NFIP"). This program was created by the U.S. Congress and is administered and regulated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA").

The national flood insurance policy can be purchased either directly from FEMA or from private insurers such as State Farm, Farmers, Allstate, Aetna, and many others. Premiums collected by these companies are divided among them for the administration of the claims expenses with the rest turned over to FEMA and deposited into the U.S Treasury. Benefits paid by the private insurance companies on flood claims under the flood policy are reimbursed by FEMA from the U.S. Treasury.

Many insurers subcontract all policy administration and claims handling to outside companies. It is not uncommon for the private insurer whose name appears on the policy, and from whom the insured purchased the insurance, to have nothing whatsoever to do with the policy or the claim handling. As such, tremendous authority for the administration of the policies and the handling of claims has been delegated to obscure companies, some of whom are merely data processing businesses.

CAN I BUY FLOOD INSURANCE FROM A PRIVATE INSURER?

Probably not, unless you are buying it to cover a business. Such policies have nothing to do with the NFIP, FEMA, or the federal government. Like earthquakes, floods are generally excluded under most property policies. So if a business wants flood coverage it must be purchased separately.

 

[Care4all]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T35WXFOmwI]YouTube - James Taylor - Fire and Rain (Beacon Theatre)[/ame]

 

[Emma]

YouTube - James Taylor - Fire and Rain (Beacon Theatre)

My ex b/f (and current stalker) looks just like Taylor. And he sings/plays guitar. Ruined his music for me... forever. Dammit.