Soap Lake may take flood precautions

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council discussed the necessity of flood insurance Wednesday night.

Councilmember Maynard Hagen asked the council to entertain the idea of flood insurance for designated areas of the city.

"Is this a flood way?," City Attorney Jim Whitaker asked. "If you're not in a flood plane, why would you apply?"

Hagen's concerns lie with the school district.

He is working with the schools to get a grant to purchase back- up generators, he said. The final eligibility standard is the city must have flood insurance.

"I'm not quite sure why anyone would want to get certified in a flood plane," Whitaker said.

Once a plane is designated, many residents would be required to purchase flood insurance, Councilmember JoAnn Rushton said.

If the city chose to get flood insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), would define the flood areas, Whitaker said. Then council makes an ordinance to declare a flood way.

The insurance is like a double edge sword, he added. Once FEMA gets involved, there can be consequences.

"Regulators are kind of like bees, they work best at a distance," Whitaker said.

The ability to get the flood insurance becomes the requirement to get flood insurance. The insurance will lead to rising construction costs, he said.

Mayor Pro-Tem DeVaun Black said he didn't think the flood issue was their problem.

Councilmember John Hillman suggested having someone from the National Flood Insurance Program come to a council meeting to see if there is a need and to answer questions for citizens.

No action was taken on the issue.

Councilmembers Marina Romary, Barney Berg and Mayor Wayne Hovde were absent.