As a homeowner, protecting your property is of the utmost importance. After all, that’s why you have insurance! But exactly how much insurance do you need?
According to a recent AAA survey, two-thirds of Florida homeowners don’t have flood insurance, despite the state’s hurricanes, rainfall, and thousands of miles of coastline. Unfortunately, many of these households will find themselves wishing they bought flood insurance coverage when they had the chance.
Regardless of where you live, all Floridians should have adequate flood insurance. In this article, we’ll walk you through the importance of this valuable coverage and why living in a “low risk” flood zone is no guarantee that you will escape unscathed.
Water Damage Is NOT a Flood
In the AAA survey, 9% of respondents said they didn’t have flood insurance because they believe their home insurance is enough. Unfortunately, flood damage is not covered under your standard homeowners insurance policy.
Most insurance companies will offer coverage for water damage that originates inside your home—such as a plumbing leak—or from rain that enters your home through the roof or walls.
Floods, on the other hand, come from rising groundwater, regardless of whether that water originally came from rain or not.
There are three types of floods:
- Flash floods occur when there is a large amount of rainfall in a short period of time that cannot be absorbed by the ground.
- River floods are caused when a river, stream, lake, or other body of water overflows due to high amounts of rainfall.
- Storm surge occurs when a high pressure system (such as a hurricane) pushes large amounts of water onto the coast.
If you experience water damage caused by a flood, your homeowners insurance will not cover it.
Do I Need Flood Insurance If I Live In a Low-Risk Flood Zone?
Many people use the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood map to help calculate their flood risk. However, this map may lead people to believe that they cannot experience a flood if they are not in a high risk zone.
Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth. According to FEMA, 1 in 3 flood claims come from low- and moderate-risk areas.
Florida’s weather, waterways, and flat terrain mean that there is never a 0% chance of flooding, even if you live inland in a “low-risk” area. And just a few inches of water can cause thousands of dollars in property damage.
Do I Need Flood Insurance? Yes!
To cover flooding damage, you will need to buy flood insurance.
Flood coverage is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which was created by Congress in 1968 to help make flood insurance available—and affordable—to everyone.
The average cost of flood insurance in Florida is about $677 dollars a year, and it can save you thousands of dollars in property damage. Contact your local independent insurance agent for a flood insurance quote based on your address and risk factors.
It’s worth noting that there is a 30-day waiting period before your flood policy will go into effect, so it’s best to purchase it before the beginning of our rainy season, which typically starts in June.
Stay High and Dry With Flood Insurance
As one of the most common natural disasters in the United States, floods should never be taken lightly.
If you are one of the millions of homeowners without flood insurance, it is vital that you contact a local independent insurance agent such as Darr Schackow Insurance. Compared to the cost of cleaning up after a flood, flood insurance is quite affordable. And the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you’re protected is worth it.
Good hurricane preparedness goes far beyond stocking up on batteries and bottled water. You also need to make sure that you will be financially protected if the worst happens.
Contact us today for a free quote.