LARGO, Fla. — In hindsight, one Largo mobile home owner is grateful that Citizens Property Insurance bought him flood insurance this year.
Jane Pasva Morgan was initially angered by the request and emailed ABC Action News anchor Nadine Yanez in April. At the time, she tearfully said that in addition to homeowner interest rates doubling in the past five years, the cost of newly required flood insurance had doubled them again. .
“If there’s any way you can help those of us who can’t help ourselves, please do what you can,” Pasva Morgan said tearfully at her dining room table in April. Ta.
Residents discuss flood insurance requirements
Six months later, the dining room where she sat had been demolished. Her home was flooded during Hurricane Milton, and a public adjuster declared it a total loss last week.
“It’s shocking. It really is,” Pasva Morgan said through tears. “So, if you’re listening, I want you to find a way to pay for flood insurance. If it’s travel or flood insurance, let’s pay for flood insurance. Because when you lose everything, you lose everything, you die. I’m grateful to have some security moving forward. ”
Citizens Property Insurance will require all policyholders to purchase flood insurance by 2027 in a phased approach. Tim Serio, the company’s CEO, spoke about the benefits of these requirements at Insurance Village in Clearwater, despite all the backlash the company received in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen. requirements.
“We now know that this was good policy to get through Congress,” Serio said. “Debbie, now because of Helen, people who are not in flood zones are being flooded, and this is to protect consumers.”
When will the water run out?
Two weeks after Milton, many Pasco County residents are wondering if rapid development contributed to the unprecedented flooding.
Community questions Pasco County’s recovery and development role in flooding
