THAT FLOOD OF DOLLARS Flooding means big bucks for Houston! And just think of how much more cash we could be raking in here if more than 1 in 5 households bought in: “Since 1978, Houstonians have received more than $1 billion worth of flood insurance checks, according to the National Flood Insurance Program. That ranks fifth among cities and counties nationally. Harris County, not counting Houston, ranks seventh. Flood Control District spokeswoman Heather Saucier cites the figures as proof that locals who have flood insurance use it. ‘If you don’t live in a mapped floodplain, It doesn’t mean you don’t need flood insurance. It means you get cheaper flood insurance,’ Saucier said. She said most insurance companies carry it, and since agents just pass through NFIP policies at set rates, no shopping around is necessary. Congress has let the flood insurance program lapse, but Linda Delamare, the federal government’s senior regional insurance specialist for Texas and four other states, said the lapse is temporary. Congress routinely reauthorizes the program in short order, and consumers should still pursue policies, she said.” [Houston Chronicle]