Flood Insurance Purchasing Deadline Nears in Red River Valley

Minnesota officials are urging homeowners living along the Red River not to wait too long to buy flood insurance this year because another major spring flood is looking more and more likely.

The Forum of Fargo reports that of the top 10 Red River crests in Fargo-Moorhead’s history, only two happened before April — but they were in 2009 and 2010.

Insurance agent Steve Aune recommends that clients have their flood insurance in place by March 15 because the National Flood Insurance Program has a 30-day waiting period before the policy takes effect.

Statistics from the FEMA indicate Fargo-Moorhead area homeowners may be heeding the message. Clay County, Minn., had nearly 2,100 flood insurance policies in force as of Oct. 30, up from about 1,200 a year earlier.