Small Towns Opt To Buy Terrorism Insurance

Small rural and suburban communities some with few structures taller than a good-sized maple tree  might be unlikely targets for terrorists, but many of them are protecting their police stations and water towers with terrorism insurance.

The extra coverage is relatively inexpensive for a small village it can amount to less than $100 a year and in many cases it is a standard feature of government insurance pools. But some question whether it is necessary.

In April, leaders of West Baraboo, a Wisconsin village of 1,200, debated whether to purchase terrorism coverage.

"If terrorists got this far into the country, there would not be anyone to make the claim anyway," said village clerk Mary Klingenmeyer. But the village board voted 5-2 to pay $87 annually for the coverage.

"We had quite a few outlying areas laughing at us," Klingenmeyer said. "Maybe we will have the last laugh."