In the wake of a devastating flood that has left the communities of Globe and Miami grappling with the harsh realities of recovery, many local residents find themselves without adequate insurance coverage; this shortfall is adding an extra layer of hardship to an already trying time. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Globe resident Udon McSpadden highlighted the prohibitive cost of flood insurance during a press conference, stating that an annual premium for just one of his properties could run as high as $30,000; shockingly, this figure does not even encompass other types of insurance coverage.
Dated floodplain maps have been identified as part of the issue confounding residents' ability to secure reasonable insurance policies, "The insurance companies set their insurance by those flood maps," Gila County Supervisor Tim Humphrey told FOX 10 Phoenix, "Everybody knows creeks change, and everybody knows now that we have GPS, those maps are not correct." On the ground-level help that McSpadden spoke of as instrumental to effect change seems just out of reach for many residents, implying that assistance needs to come through elevated awareness and action at the state and federal levels.
The area's history with wildfires further complicates matters, as businesses such as La Casita Café in Historic Downtown Globe suffered significant damage due to flooding. Adrianne Villalobos, the owner of La Casita, expressed her distress to Arizona's Family, saying, "It’s going to take us hundreds of thousands of dollars to restore our business," and highlighting that the financial burdens faced are a result of not only the flood but the interactions with their insurance "because they burned 600,000 acres of our district. It’s got to go higher," as related to the fire risks that have also ramped up insurance premiums.
With the stark lack of flood insurance across the community painfully evident, local leaders are working to secure expedited funding for those affected by the flood, as a Disaster Assistance Center was made available on October 1 at the Gila County Fairgrounds. Such information can be found on their Facebook page. Meanwhile, Governor Katie Hobbs has declared a state of emergency with FEMA on-site performing assessments alongside state and local officials, as reported by Arizona's Family; representatives expect that with these ongoing assessments, a clearer understanding of the damages and the potential for declarations that could alleviate some of the financial strain for Globe and Miami's residents will soon be brought to light.
