Why You Need Flood Insurance You may be thinking, I don’t live in a high-risk flood zone. Why do I need flood insurance? While your area may not be at risk for heavy rainfall or flash floods, there are many other things that cause flooding in homes, such as:
Burst water sources
Poor pipe drainage
Overflowing septic tanks
Blocked sewer access
Foundation drainage issues
Poor sealing in walls or flooring These can happen in any home, no matter how low-risk your area may seem.
Understanding Your Flood Insurance Policy
Understanding your flood insurance policy might be tricky, so here are some easy-to-understand definitions:
BFE: Base Flood Elevation – this is the elevation determined by the federal government
Community Rating System: a government programs that gives incentives to communities who developed extra protections from flooding in their area
Elevation Certificate: a certificate that will verify your home’s elevation
National Flood Insurance Program: a government insurance program
Special Flood Hazard Area: areas that the government requires that flood insurance is purchased
Special Flood Hazard Areas There are two main zones in special flood hazard areas:
V Zones: beachfront properties that are in danger because of their closeness to waves.
A Zones: properties near bodies of water that are in danger of rising, like lakes, rivers, and streams
Comments