The main thing is to get flood insurance if you live in Louisiana. Flood insurance isn't required but is a necessity, so it's best to get it.

If this is to become a perpetual government program, like flood insurance, the industry should be honest about it.

If you try to make it without flood insurance, you could be looking at financial ruin. The door is open, and now is the time to step through it.

[The Coopers bit. They purchased flood insurance and a DMP policy. Their mortgage payment is $1,500 to $2,000 a month. Their premium: $251 a year.] With the mortgage payment we have, it's like, 'Wow! One month, and it's paid!,' ... So, it was really a no brainer.

We should be thankful we don't live in Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama.

Residents should not be worried that the flood insurance program is insolvent. Be assured, we're not going belly-up, and we're not going away.