Austin encourages residents to purchase flood insurance - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

AUSTIN, Minn.  (KTTC) -- The city of Austin sent notifications to residents encouraging them to purchase flood insurance now, as there is a 30 day waiting period before the policy goes into effect. 

Cedar River, Turtle Creek and Dobbins Creek pose a major threat to homes if waters exceed their banks.  The city has seen dangerous floods from these sources in the past 35 years. 

Janet and Dan Goldman live near the flood plain, and in 2008, their basement flooded and threatened the upper levels of their home.

"It's not a pleasant thing to go through," said Dan Goldman.

"It's a lot of hard work to clean up," said his wife Janet. "It's heart wrenching to lose things, like all of our sons' things he made in school -- you just can't get it back."

"If you can get any help and insurance is there to help you, then I highly recommend it," said Dan Goldman.

The city participates in the National Flood Insurance Program making insurance available to everyone in Austin.