What's the scoop on flood plains?

[Carlos O.]

I am looking at purchasing a home in KCK which is close to the river. I've seen a couple of comments saying that buying in a flood zone has been a mistake or the fact that they didn't find out a purchased property was on a flood plain totally killed their deal and their cash flow. I hardly know anything about how flood plains impact REI and am seeking some wisdom on this subject.

1. How much can insurance go up just for the flood factor?

2. Why would buying in a flood plain be a disaster? If you have flood insurance, it should be okay right?

3. How can I verify whether a house is in a flood plain before purchasing a home? 

Any other knowledge on flood plains and RE would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Carlos O.