FEMA has announced that certain residents of Arizona need to buy flood insurance. Arizonans. Lots of them, in fact, as FEMA has identified 119,000 homes in the state that are built in FEMA defined floodplains. FEMA has grown somewhat sensitive to the flood issue since Katrina, and since its management of the federal flood insurance program has proven to be a disaster. Their floodplain maps are decades old, and many multiple claims have been filed and paid off under their jurisdiction.

Still, it doesn’t get a lot dryer than Arizona. While FEMA should be commended for their new sensitivity on flood control, Arizona wouldn’t necessarily be the state to begin renewed vigilance on the matter. Last time I was in Tucson, the city had no storm drain system. Convincing residents of that state that flood insurance is a priority is going to be a tough sell in most areas.

Nevertheless, FEMA is expressing its concern that only 27,000 of those homes identified as lying in a floodplain carry flood insurance. There is no mention in the news stories on the subject as to whether FEMA questioned the permitting agencies and zoning officials in the floodplain area about their criteria for development.

FEMA is merely anticipating what could occur, in the event of ‘a 100 year storm.’ That’s another term that is not likely to send Arizonans running to the phone to call the insurance agent. Last year, the federal flood insurance program serviced 108 claims for the state, which currently has a population of a little over six million.