Most visitors who come to Las Vegas and enjoy our endless days of sunshine never give a thought to flooding, but the fact is that our rains are so rare that, when they do come, they can create problems. The county has spent millions of dollars channeling the rain water from the mountains on the west side, through the city, and into Lake Mead, but, when it rains too hard and too fast, there can be more water than the channels and reservoirs can handle. Next thing you know helicopters are out rescuing auto occupants who try to cross the newly formed rivers, and CNN is there to cover the intimate details.

When prospective buyers come to our area, they don't think any more about flooding than visitors do, and the thought of buying flood insurance for their new home never crosses their minds. For most homes here it is not required; however, there are areas in Clark County that have been designated as flood plain by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If the home you choose is in one of these areas, the seller or builder should advise you. (Your real estate agent will provide accurate information to you.) If a lending company is involved in the purchase, they will probably require that you have flood insurance. If you are paying cash, find out! Flood insurance, though provided to you by your insurance company, is NOT part of a standard homeowner's policy. As I mentioned above, most homes in Southern Nevada are not in the designated flood plain and do not require flood insurance, but some owners choose to add it to their policies anyway, just to be on the safe side. FEMA advises that no home is 100% free from the possibility of flooding.

For more information please visit the following websites:

The FEMA

The Clark County Flood

OR

contact me