Monday, December 12th, 2005 — Recent increased in homeowners insurance rates in south Mississippi can not be attributed to Hurricane Katrina, according to Insurance Department officials, who indicate that Allstate, USAA and the Southern Farm Bureau all filed for and received rate increases before Katrina struck Aug. 29. Household insurance bills also will increase as property owners add flood insurance. Only 22,312 flood policies were in force for the six South Mississippi counties before Katrina hit, according to the National Flood Insurance Program.