Flood Zone By Address: What Zones Require Flood Insurance?

What Is A Flood and What Are Flood Hazards?

With Floods being the most common natural disaster in the United States, it’s important to understand what zones require flood insurance, your chances of flooding, and making sure you have a plan in place for you, your family, and your home.

Flooding isn’t just a threat to people living near water. It happens all across the country — in all regions, in all climates, in various ways. Floods happen when there is an overflow of water onto land that is usually dry and can occur due to snow melting quickly, heavy rainfall, ocean waves coming onto shore, overflows from dams or other water systems. Flash floods are especially hazardous as they can happen within minutes and are very destructive.

Using Flood Maps To Know What Zone You’re In

Make sure you know if your home is at high-risk or low-risk of flooding by using a flood map. Living in a high-risk area means you have a 25% chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage. However, your home doesn’t have to be in a high-risk zone for you to experience flooding. Almost 25% of all Flood claims come from low to moderate-risk areas.

The odds of you experiencing flooding may seem slim. But it happens more than you’d think. In fact, 90% of all presidential-declared disasters involve flooding. Even minor flooding can mean significant financial challenges. Just a couple of inches of floodwater penetrating your home is more than enough to destroy floors, damaged walls, and ruin appliances, which could cost you thousands.

Nature isn’t the only cause of flooding either. New construction and paving can alter the lands’ ability to drain properly. As a result, run-off can increase two to six times over what would occur on natural terrain. Areas that were initially zoned as low-risk can quickly become high-risk as development changes topography.

Have A Plan – Know What Zones Require Flood Insurance

Having a plan in place for you and your family will provide peace of mind and ensure you’re prepared. When making a plan, it’ll be important to think about dietary needs, medical needs, shelter, and even plan for any fur babies. With your family safe, it’s time to think about your home and what zones require Flood insurance.

Homeowners policies may cover fire, tornado, or even earthquake damage, but they rarely cover damage from flooding. The next step would be to look into Flood insurance. There are two types of flood policies: Preferred and Standard. The flood hazard zone you live in determines the type of policy you should buy. If your property is located in a low-risk zone, you may qualify for a Preferred Risk Policy, making you eligible for coverage at a lower rate. If you live in a high-risk zone, the sooner you speak to an agent, the better, as Flood insurance has a mandatory 30-day waiting period on new flood policies.

Our agents are always here for any questions you may have and are happy to walk you through the process. Reach out to an agent or request a quote. Are you looking for more answers? We’ve got you. Our blogs are full of tips for homeowners, and one of our most recent blogs covers 6 most asked questions about homeowners insurance.