RIP David Brinkley and flood zones

David Brinkley died today at the age of 82. When I was growing up I used to watch the national nightly news quite often. Back then we only had a TV antennae so we got the major networks and that was it. So, from 6:30 to 7 you had news and nothing else to choose from. When I saw David Brinkley he would do special spots as John Chancellor was the host. (is he still alive?) He was a very odd looking man with a speaking style that was unmistakable. When I heard the news from him and John Chancellor, it was important. They were serious beyond reproach. I’m sad to see David go, he was a good one.

I found out some disturbing news today. Evidently FEMA, the governments disaster department wants to classify our entire area as a high risk floodzone. They want to make flood insurance mandatory. The insurance coverage down here is odd. If a hurricane rips off your roof and everything gets soaked, you are covered. However if the associated rains causes flooding and outside water gets into the house, you aren’t. Unless, you have a separate flood insurance policy. With a high risk flood rating this has the potential of socking every single home in our area with a 2000-3000 dollar flood insurance premium every year! (on top of your homeowners insurance!) Naturally there is an uproar. The people that live out in our area are generally working class people that live in the Estates because they can’t afford to live anywhere in the high rent districts of Collier County. Such an insurance premium would put a big squeeze on the majority of the people in our area. Evidently the FEMA maps are based on old data. The county claims that the building codes requirement of raised slabs also makes this floodzone designation erroneous. Our house is built on top of a 3 or 4 foot high mound. It would take amazing amounts of rain to climb to that height. It’s letter writing time….