Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/180498
Sarasota News Leader September 27, 2013 Page 17 they spent on flood insurance, she said, statis- storm surge, and the policies actually don't tics showed they saved $4. cover storm surge," Patterson said. During her presentation, Companion showed the board a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) map marking hurricane landfalls in the area since 1946. Some of the 77 storms had no names, she pointed out, but a number of them came within 65 miles of Sarasota County. Still, hurricanes are not the only source of flooding, she noted. "As we are quite aware — and especially this week — duration/saturation [linked to rainfall] can make quite a difference." Patterson also asked Companion a question about storm surge coverage. A person purporting to be knowledgeable about the NFIP told her "it is only marginally useful in Florida because so much of the damage occurs from "That's incorrect," Companion responded. Although she is not an insurance agent, Companion continued, she could reassure the board that flood damage covered by the program "can be from either a rainfall source or storm surge." ABOUT THAT RAIN … While Companion was making her remarks to the County Commission on Sept. 25, both City and County of Sarasota workers were dealing with problems related to the rainfall that began Monday. According to NOAA observations at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, from Monday through 4:53 p.m. on Sept. 25, 6.9 inches of rainfall was recorded. The site of the proposed new Westin hotel and condos at the corner of Gulfstream and U.S. 41 in downtown Sarasota is soggy on Sept. 25. Photo by Norman Schimmel