A bill requiring Central Valley property owners who live in flood-prone areas to have flood insurance has died without getting a vote in a state Assembly committee.

"I think we've missed a very important opportunity to make sure people are protected so that when a flood comes, they'll have something to fall back on," Dave Jones, an assemblyman, said.

The bill would have required valley property owners to buy coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program unless the state or a local agency certified that levees provided at least 200-year flood protection.

Current law bars lenders from making or renewing a loan on property without flood insurance in an area without at least a 100-year flood protection.

The bill was opposed by insurance companies. But, I personally feel that there is nothing to oppose! Why are the insurance companies thinking about themselves only? Has humanity taken a back seat altogether?