We’re well into hurricane season, and every year we see images on the news of the devastation that flooding can bring. Whether or not you live in a hurricane zone, floods can happen anywhere and are ranked as America’s most common natural disaster. Because of this, you may be wondering how flood insurance works and if you need it. Here’s what you should know.
The Facts
As of 2016, only about 12 percent of homeowners carried flood insurance. Here are some facts to consider if you’re thinking about joining their numbers:
- Just one inch of water in your home can cause more than $27,000 worth of damage.
- It only takes 12 inches of fast-moving water to carry away a car, and only six inches to knock you off your feet.
- Flash floods can carry water to more than 20 feet high.
- Flash floods can occur with almost no warning and can happen in just a few minutes.
- Floods from hurricanes and tropical storms are more damaging than the high winds they cause.
- You are required to carry flood insurance if you have a federally backed mortgage and you live in an area that’s at a high risk for floods.
- Up to 30 percent of flood losses happen in low- or moderate-risk areas.
Homeowners Insurance
When you buy a home, it’s a given that you’ll purchase homeowners insurance. But it’s very important to remember that most homeowners insurance policies do not cover damage caused by flooding. For this reason, you’ll need to purchase a separate policy that covers floods.
Flood Insurance
As stated above, your mortgage lender may require you to have flood insurance if you live in a high-risk zone. In some cases, your lender may also require flood insurance, even if you don’t live in a high-risk area. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers this type of coverage and can be purchased through a private insurance agent. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages NFIP. You can find out if you live in a high-risk zone by viewing FEMA’s flood maps. Flood insurance covers up to $250,000 for your home and $100,000 for your possessions. If you need additional coverage or live in an area where NFIP is not available, you can purchase private insurance.
Cost and Requirements
If you are in high-risk area or are required to purchase flood insurance by your lender, you should be aware of the cost and requirements. Be advised that flood insurance coverage does not take effect until 30 days after purchase. Don’t wait until a storm is in the forecast to talk to an insurance agent. The cost of an insurance flood policy is generally affordable. The average policy is only about $411 a year, which works out to just over a dollar a day. If you’re in a low-risk zone, your policy could cost even less.
The bottom line is that if you’re concerned about flooding, you should look into your options for flood insurance. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
