Flood insurance is something that, unfortunately, many people don’t know much about. Especially if you live in one of the states and cities that are most at risk of flooding, you definitely need flood insurance. Understanding more about flood insurance is a crucial component of making sure that your home is as stable as possible. Here’s what you need to know about flood insurance overall.
States and Cities Most at Risk
First of all, what states and cities are the most at risk for serious flooding? Climate change has impacted how flooding happens, which means that just about any coastal area is more at risk, and some areas now deal with intense hurricanes after periods of drought, which can seriously raise the risk of flood. Here are the 10 states most at risk for flooding:
- Florida
- California
- Arizona
- Texas
- New York
- Louisiana
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Georgia
- Massachusetts
However, because there are only 50 states, this list makes up a full 20% of all states in the United States. Individual cities can sometimes paint a clearer picture. These are the cities with the most homes at risk from storm surge flooding:
- Miami, FL
- New York, NY
- Tampa, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Fort Myers, FL
- Houston, TX
- Bradenton, FL
- Naples, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
As you can see, 6/10, or 60%, of the top 10 cities are all in Florida. If you live in Florida, it’s probably important that you consider whether you’re at risk for flooding issues.
Important Information to Know About Flooding Insurance
The concept of flooding insurance is something that confuses a lot of homeowners. Is it included in your homeowner’s insurance? Do you need to add it? What can you do to utilize it more effectively? Understanding your flooding insurance is just as important as having it.
First off, general homeowner’s insurance typically does not cover external flooding unless stated otherwise. You will almost certainly have to purchase a separate flood insurance policy to cover external flooding problems. Flood insurance typically comes through the federal government’s FEMA program, which will only cover direct physical losses.
Through FEMA, you can get a maximum flood insurance amount of $250,000 for your home’s structure and $100,000 for whatever’s inside your home. However, you can get additional coverage from private insurance companies if your home’s structure and contents are worth more than this.
Conclusion
Flood insurance is a must-have for many people, even if they don’t know it. If you currently live in a high-risk flooding area, chances are that flood insurance is required. However, even if you don’t live in an area that requires flood insurance, it’s still a good idea if you live in an area that may suffer from floods. After all, if you end up dealing with a flood without insurance, you could end up paying tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket.
