RISK REDUCTION MITIGATION ACTIVITIES

FLOOD FACTS

• Property owners and renters should buy flood insurance even if you are not in a high-risk area.

• Your chances of being flooded are much greater than some other risks you face daily.

• If you live in a 100-year floodplain, there is more than a 1 in 4 chance that you will be flooded during a 30-year mortgage. During a 30-year mortgage, you are 27 times more likely to experience a flood than have a fire.

• Just one inch of water can cause $20,000 or more in damages to your property.

• Your homeowners or renter’s policy typically does not cover flood damage.

• No home is safe from the devastation of a flood; 25% of flood losses occur to homes outside of a high-risk area (category 1 or above).

FLOOD INSURANCE

Catastrophic floods can impact consumers anywhere in the country. Whether you live in an area that has a low or high risk of flooding, you should buy flood insurance if you own or rent property. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) defines flooding as a general and temporary condition where two or more properties or two or more contiguous acres of normally dry land are inundated by water or mudflow. Not everyone faces the same level of risk of loss from flooding; The NFIP helps communities understand their risk with flood maps which are divided into three categories:

1. High-risk areas have at least a 1% chance of flooding annually. All homeowners in these areas with mortgages from federally regulated or insured lenders are required to buy flood insurance.

2. Moderate-to-low risk areas have less chance of flooding annually, but there is still a possibility of a flood. Flood insurance in these areas isn’t required but is recommended for all property owners and renters.

3. Where flood-hazard analysis has not been conducted, but a flood loss still can occur.

FLOOD POLICIES

The NFIP standard flood insurance policy pays for direct physical damage to your insured property up to the replacement cost or actual cash value (ACV) of actual damages, or the policy limits of coverage, whichever is less.

Homeowners Structure - Flood insurance policies cover up to $250,000 of flood damage to a home’s structure, including:

• Damage to the furnace, water heater, air conditioner and floor surfaces (carpeting and tile)

• Debris removal and clean up

• Coverage for basements, crawlspaces and ground level enclosures on an elevated home is limited, so talk to your agent about any restrictions in the policy

Homeowners Content - Personal property inside your home is not covered under the Building Property coverage form. However, coverage is available up to $100,000 for an additional premium.

• Clothes, washer, and dryer

• Television and furniture

• Other personal belongings

Business owners - Personal property is not covered under Building Property policy form. However, coverage is available for up to $500,000 and an additional premium.

HOW MUCH DOES FLOOD INSURANCE COST

According to FEMA, the average homeowners flood insurance premium is about $500 a year, or about $42 a month. Premiums will vary depending on your location and flood zone, the risk of loss in your area, the amount and type of coverage needed and the preferred deductible amount.