Missouri River Flooding Damage Bills Adding Up

Federal flood insurance has already paid out $43 million to help policyholders deal with the damage caused by flooding along the Missouri River even though the floodwaters haven’t fully receded.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says those payments went to people who live and work along the river downstream from the Garrison dam in North Dakota. That total includes payments made by Sept. 1, it will grow as more claims are submitted.

FEMA is urging people to submit claims as soon as possible. This year’s Missouri River flooding officially began June 1.

Massive amounts of water from above-average spring rains and snowpack have been flowing down the river all summer. The Corps of Engineers predicts the river won’t be back inside its banks until sometime in October.