(Spirit Lake)– Dickinson county is getting back into the National Flood Insurance Program.
The board of supervisors Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a resolution of intent and application for participation in the program. They also voted to waive the second and third readings and adopted the floodplain management ordinance.
The unincorporated areas of the county used to be in the National Flood Insurance Program at one time, but pulled out. But new mortgage regulations by banks require properties identified as being in the flood plain have flood insurance protection. Otherwise, the owner of the property would have to go through a long and expensive process of opting the property out of the flood plain, as federal flood insurance is not available in areas not participating in the program. Flood insurance in those areas must be obtained through other sources, and is extremely costly.
The Spirit Lake city council also voted recently to get back into the National Flood Insurance Program.
