Did you know that property owners in the moderate-to-low risk category submit roughly 20% of all claims to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)? The NFIP is a federal program that was created in 1968 to offer flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners according to Insuramatch. There are a lot of situations where you can find yourself in a siltation where you are dealing with flooding. Although we have seen the destruction wrought by the two most hurricanes, Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, here are some other instances where you may wish you had flood insurance.
Living in A Wildfire Risk Area
Growing up in California, I have become accustomed to the smell and sight of wildfires. One of the biggest threats that anyone may face after a wildfire is a heavy rainstorm. Due to the extreme heat of the wildfire, the scorched earth is turned into a density similar to brick. As you can imagine, this makes it very difficult for water to absorb into the earth. As a result, mudslides and mudflows can form, causing, even more, property damage to an area recovering from a wildfire.
Newly Developed Areas
If you recently bought or moved to an area that was recently developed, you should beware heavy rainstorms as well. With less ground available for the water to be absorbed, these areas can be at risk of flooding. What made the flooding in Houston so devastating was that the concrete jungle of the city prevented the water from absorbing into the earth. Though on a much smaller scale, this can be the case for newly built communities.
Melting Snow
Another problem that many probably don’t even realize is the abrupt melting of snow. According to Consumer Reports, this happened recently in California where snow packs after a recent storm began to melt, flooding people’s basements. Even if you don’t live near a river or typical areas where you would expect flooding, that doesn’t mean that you will never have to deal with this natural disaster.
How Much It Costs for Flood Insurance
If you live in a high-risk area, the average cost for a policy is $700 a year. However, if you don’t live in a high-risk area, this can be significantly lower. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, who runs the NFIP, states that a property that fits in the moderate-to-low-risk category will pay an average premium of $420.
If you do not want to get insurance through the NFIP, then you can consider looking into private insurance. You may be able to find a better premium just by shopping around. The added benefit of private insurance is that it may also cover your living expenses if you have to move out of your home during cleanup, which is something federal flood insurance doesn’t cover. Keep in mind that not all areas participate in the NFIP. To determine if your area does, you should consult a homeowners or renter insurance agent.
