For much of South Florida, flood insurance is a necessity due to hurricanes and storms that can drop copious amounts of rain. Even those that don’t live in a declared flood zone would do well to protect their home with flood insurance. Without the coverage, homeowners and renters will be responsible for paying for repairs, replacement of personal items, and living expenses if the home is uninhabitable out of their own pocket.
Storms
Flood insurance due to storms isn’t included in a typical homeowner or renters insurance policy. After the historic hurricanes that hit Florida in recent years, many insurance companies closed, cancelled policies, or no longer offer the coverage. Those seeking flood insurance need to obtain it through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Why Flood Insurance
There are some very good reasons to purchase flood insurance. South Florida bears the brunt of numerous hurricanes and the sub-tropical climate lends itself to storms that can produce multiple inches of rain at a time. Flood waters from hurricanes are also reaching further inland.
Another potential source of flooding comes in the form of building projects and insufficient drainage planned for those projects. In those instances, even a small amount of rain can create runoff that turns into a flooding issue.
Florida’s highest natural point stands just 345 ft. above sea level. Many of South Florida’s coastal cities stand at just 7 ft. or less above sea level. A high tide can cut that in half.
Water Damage
Coverage for water damage in a home, apartment or business is an entirely different matter. A policy will typically cover damage due to leaky or broken pipes and malfunctioning appliances such as washers and dishwashers. Policies will include exclusions, requirements that policyholders must meet, and actions individuals need to take for the water damage to be covered. Policy holders may have to prove that wind from a storm first caused damage to a roof and led to water-related damage inside, for example.