Have you seen the now ubiquitous hashtag #ILiveWhereYouVacation that’s so popular on social media? If you’re a Florida resident, you know exactly how it feels to live in a place that tends to be many people’s dream vacation destination. One of the main reasons for that reality is that we’re home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. We also have a myriad of lakes, rivers, and everglades. Pretty much, we’re surrounded by water, and built our cities on water.
But all of this fun and beauty comes at a price: as we all well aware, Florida is also home to natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods.
Where does FEMA come in?
Every couple of years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designs flood insurance rate maps (FIRM) that reflect an area’s propensity to experience flooding. The higher the flood risk, the more expensive your flood insurance premiums are. A problem with this system is that, no only do they design the maps, but they also provide the insurance coverage. It’s like having a goat guarding your garden.
Can you bypass FEMA?
As of right now, we’re stuck with FEMA. Homeowner’s insurance don’t cover floods, and if you’re in a high risk area, you should protect your home and assets. The problem with this system is that, in addition to the goat and the garden issue mentioned above, FEMA is also in a dire financial reality that, depending on results on proposed legislation, may result in higher costs for policy holders.
How National Flood Experts can help you
The first thing you should determine is whether you really need flood insurance. Even if a rate map indicates that your property is in a high risk flood zone, that information may be outdated or incorrect. National Flood Experts can conduct a free evaluation of your home, and if we conclude that you are incorrectly zoned, we will help you through the appeals process to get you removed. Contact us and see how we can help you. It’s free to get started, and saves you money in the long run.