Flash flooding from intense storms over central Texas and Oklahoma over the past week has brought images of rivers overflowing, streets filled with water, homes floating off their foundations and cars set adrift. There has been many cases of home damage. Rebuilding these homes can take months, or even up to a year. But some of those homeowners don’t own flood insurance.
While homeowners in high risk flood areas are required to buy flood insurance, others should consider buying it too. “Anywhere it can rain, it can flood.”
So why buy flood insurance?
Floods are the most common weather emergency in the U.S., according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They usually strike without any warning. Flooding can result from hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains, winter storms, etc. The increased development of buildings, parking lots, and roads has made flooding more severe throughout the country.
How can you get flood insurance?
Flood insurance is available in more than 22,000 communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. If you live in a community that doesn’t participate, you aren’t out of luck. Homeowners, condo associations and rental associations can inform and require that you get flood insurance before moving in to a new home or signing a lease.
Wherever you might live, it’s always a good idea to think about covering for home for any kind of disaster!
