http://phillyblog.com/philly/showthread.php?t=3339
Mikeg,

I live near the Schuylkill in Center City, and am in a 100 year flood plain so my mortgage company requires flood insurance. As far as I know all my neighbors have it too.

I believe you mentioned that you live in Logan Square so your mortgage company may also require it.

After hurricane Floyd in 1999 the Schuylkill was about 75 feet from my front door. I've been here for 16 years and that is the worst I have seen.

Right now we rent in Logan Square, and don't worry too much about water damage to our place. The landlord doesn't sink an extra dime into it, and I certainly don't give two shits about it either.

What I'm concerned about is when I move to Pennsport / Southwark (below Washington Ave., east of the Italian Market). My wife and I bought a place in Jefferson Square, and I was wondering whether there are ever water problems in that vacinity, it being relatively close to the Delaware.

Does the Delaware River ever flood on the PA side?

Could I buy flood insurance cheaply if I'm not technically in a flood plain?

And what about earthquakes? There is a slight history of them here, which I would never have known about had my former roommates' friend not mentioned that her U Penn professor talked about it.

LIVED 18 YEARS AROUND THAT AREA 7TH REED NEVER SAW A FLOOD THE RIVER IS PRETTY WIDE , BESIDES YOUR LIKE 6 BLKS AWAY
WE NEVER HAD FLOOD INSURANCE AND AS FAR AS I KNOW ITS NOT REQUIRED. EARTHQUAKES WHEN THEY DO HAPPEN IN PHILLY MOST NEVER FEEL IT. YOU JUST HEAR ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS

Most of us are more likely to be hit by a plague of locusts.

Of course if you live on Main Street in Manayunk, or in Upper Darby (or anywhere near a Philadelphia water main), then flood insurance might be prudent.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

People build in a flood plain and then get upset when they get flooded ...

By the way, comments on Earthquakes were moved to:

http://phillyblog.com/philly/showthread.php?t=3339

and union workers to:

http://phillyblog.com/philly/showthread.php?t=5539

__________________
Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian. - Robert Orben

Sounds like mudslides might be a problem in JS.

Hope you don't get boardslides.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Information on the National Flood Insurance Program can be found at:

http://www.fema.gov/nfip/

__________________
Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian. - Robert Orben

People in Philadelphia don't seem concerned with flood insurance.

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Be prepared! That's the Boy Scouts' marching song, Be prepared! As through life you march along.
-Tom Lehrer

"100 year floodplain" is a misleading term. In actuality, it translates to a 1% cumulative chance of flooding in any given year. In other words...if it hasn't flooded in 75 years....there's a 75% chance it will flood this year. You can pay the couple hundred bucks a year for coverage you don't get from HO insurance, or roll the dice. Just don't bitch to FEMA begging for taxpayer funded handouts when your house gets wiped out and you don't have coverage.

I am forced to buy flood insurance because of the 100 year law. I did some research about this as my house will and never been flooded.

I live near the Lefevre Street bridge which underneath it is a few cement cased pipes carrying the Frankford creek I am told as Bridesburg is really an island? Anyway, The guy next door to me has been here since he was a fetus and is now 83 years old. He said it did not even flood before it was cemented over.

I would not complain usually about a few dollars but I am marked in X zone which carries around $1100 dollars a year flood insurance and when you add that up over a 30 year mortgage it is over 30 thousand dollars for nothing and all this is taking into consideration if it never goes up which it does every time there is a major new hurricane it seems. There are not rates for flood insurance because only FEMA offers it as companies were losing there shirts. We basically are paying for Florida residents and everyone else who has the enjoyment of warm weather and a beach year round. It comes down to that some people need it but a lot of people are marked in the zone unfairly & are being raped so to speak.

Check out this site.

http://www.floodzonecorrection.com/

I will be in the process of working with them soon.

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I've been everywhere man! I been to Port Richmond, Kensington, Fishtown, Mayfair, Bridesburg -- I've been everywhere!

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