More Homeowners Could Need Flood Coverage with Post-Ike Maps

A federal revision of flood maps in 17 Texas coastal counties based on information from Hurricane Ike could lead to costly insurance increases for some homeowners.

The Houston Chronicle reported that hurricane levees completed in the 1980s are unlikely to meet new certification standards without upgrades.

The newspaper reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency won’t include the levees on new flood maps if they aren’t certified within two years after storm surge figures from Ike are ready sometime this fall.

If the levees aren’t on flood maps, many homes will required by lenders to carry costly flood insurance for the first time. Some residents say that would force them to leave.

Information from: Houston Chronicle