STOCKTON, Calif. — After nearly 16 years, thousands of homeowners in Stockton are no longer required to carry flood insurance — ending what many described as an expensive and frustrating financial burden.
In 2024, construction was completed on the Smith Canal flood gate in Stockton. The project is designed to control canal water and mitigate flooding concerns by allowing the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency to open or close the flow from the San Joaquin River into the canal.
Since 2009, the Federal Emergency Management Agency had required nearly 8,000 homeowners in the area to carry flood insurance after placing the neighborhood in a flood hazard zone. Officials said some residents saw rates climb as high as $3,000 a year…