I’m taking credit for breaking the drought that has gripped North Texas the last few years. And you wonder how I can take credit for it? I’ll explain.
As some of you know, we bought this place about nine and a half years ago. A few years later, we had a guy here adding an additional rain gutter across the back of the shop. He told me he used to work for the city here, and asked, “Does it still flood in this neighborhood? It used to.”
So I did a little checking and found FEMA does list the area as having a “moderate” flood risk; however, banks and mortgage companies do not require flood insurance. The drainage channel or ditch for the area goes right by the Corinth Police Department, less than a quarter mile from here, and there was a flood gauge along side that ditch.
So I bought flood insurance; fairly cheap; $334 a year.
Our property is fairly flat, but everything around here very gradually drains to the south to that drainage ditch, about a block (one cross street and 5 houses) south of us. We learned from a neighbor 2 houses south of us, who has lived there for 35 years, that it once flooded up to the next house south of him. In other words, it’s never gotten this far north. Of course the city has done a fair amount of drainage work since we've lived here, and the flood gauge by the police station was removed.
So last month I got a letter from the flood insurance folks that an additional $25 surcharge would be added to homes occupied by the owner and a $250 surcharge on other policies. It told what I would need to send to prove we live here. I did not respond. So now I’ve received the new premium bill for $574.
[So I decided to drop the flood insurance (that actually expires July 19) and VOILA! The drought’s broken! The news from yesterday said this has been the wettest month of May on record, and we got another 2” between 5:30 and 6:30 this morning, and it’s still raining. So I must have done it!!
Incidentally, I drove down by the police station awhile ago and another 2 feet of water would get them, but not us. That big wide drainage ditch is almost full and running fast.