DES MOINES, IA - Tens of thousands of people were left homeless in Houston, Texas last month after Hurricane Harvey hit because levees were not high enough to hold back the water. 85-percent of them had no flood insurance, according to national news reports.
Is it possible that the same thing could happen here?
There are thousands of people in Des Moines who may think the city's four levees will protect them from flooding. But it turns out those levees are no longer high enough.
Every one of the homeowners WHO Radio News talked with this weekend said no one has told them.
"No they have not." Said Kiki, who just moved into the neighborhood near one of the levees. So, does he have flood insurance? "Ah, no."
Across the street, Denny says his father has owned his home in the same neighborhood for many years.
"Has your Dad been informed that the levy is not high enough?" We asked.
"No, nope." He said.
"Do you think your Dad has flood insurance?" We asked. "No, I know he doesn't." Said Denny.
Same for his friend and neighbor, Don. "No, they never informed us of anything." He said.
And, Pam two blocks over. And Kurt down a few more doors. All the same. No one has told them things have changed with the levees, and none of them has flood insurance.
One year ago, the Army Corps of Engineers told the City of Des Moines its four levees are no longer high enough, and the City is working on a plan.
"Raising the levees for all four of the Des Moines levy system. The Des Moines One, Des Moines Two, Des Moines Three, and then the Des Moines Southeast Levy." Jason Smith with the Army Corps of Engineers tells WHO Radio News.
But, he says it'll take years to raise the levees, so he recommends anyone living near the levees take a look at the flood map and consider flood insurance.
LINKS:
Des Moines and Polk County revised flood maps: http://ifis.iowafloodcenter.org/ifis/maps/hazard/
City of Des Moines Flood information online: https://www.dmgov.org/Departments/CommunityDevelopment/Pages/FloodInformationCenter.aspx