Hurricane Harvey showed that flood insurance is more than a convenience — it’s become a necessity, even if you’re not in a flood zone.
According to reports, nearly half of the buildings that flooded in the Houston area were not areas considered a “minimal” flood hazard.
Even if you’re flood-prone area, you may want to think about protecting your home from a flood. Many people lost their homes because of rising water; in many cases, it was the one thing their home was not protected against.
Many people simply did not expect that much rain.
The rain — which hovered for hours and hours — caused a historic flood, and many homeowners did not have flood insurance.
Jacksonville-area homeowners should learn from what happened in Texas — and also keep our geography in mind.
“Here in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia the high point is only a few feet above sea surface, First Alert Meteorologist Mike Buresh said. “We're at sea level.”
Much of the water that accumulated in areas of Houston were not considered flood zones, and that means many homeowners were not required to purchase any.
Buresh says if you’re thinking about getting a policy, there are limitations.
“A policy won't go into effect for 30 days, so you're too late right now if you think you're gonna be covered with Irma,” Buresh said. “If there is a named storm nearby or approaching, it won't even be written.”
Your home may be in a low-risk flood zone, but that doesn’t mean it’s not at risk.
Most homes are going to cost between $250 and $500 a year for flood insurance, which again, given the peace of mind and the protection that it affords you after a storm it's not real expensive,” Buresh said.
Cox Media Group
