The possibility of losing everything you own in a flood might not be something you think about every day.
Nevertheless, it’s important to know that most home insurance policies don’t cover flooding – even those caused by natural disasters. If you live within a flood zone, you’ll need a separate flood insurance as part of your homeowner’s coverage.
Do you live in a flood zone?
First off, you need to understand what a flood zone is. As indicated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a floodplain is any area that is next to a body of water. FEMA doesn’t characterize how far away or close the home should be to a waterway to be viewed as a flood zone property. Many characteristics of floodplains can’t be easily defined. It’s up to you to know whether your property will at flood risk, and to protect it accordingly:
Check FEMA’s Website
You can check FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. Input your address and it will show you a detailed map of your area, and whether your home is in a flood zone.
There are a few online tools that promise the information for free, but we prefer to go straight to the source.
Get the Elevation Certificate
Most sellers will provide the elevation certificate with the home’s closing documents, but you can ask to see it before the sale is completed. You can share it with your insurance provider to estimate the cost of flood insurance. If you don’t have access to your home’s elevation certificate, we can issue another one for you.
Not all Flood Zones are Created Equal
Flood zones vary in risk, depending on a variety of factors. FEMA’s map will show if your home is in an area that is at great risk of flooding. The type of flood zone will influence the type of coverage – and cost – of your flood insurance.
A Flood Zone Isn’t Permanent
FEMA’s flood rate maps change every once in a while. It’s also a fact that a lot of structures are incorrectly rated – and you can do something about it.
Your property could be removed from the FEMA Flood Zone. Your first step will be to contact us for a free Elevation Certificate Property Assessment. Typically within one hour, we can determine if your property can be removed from the FEMA Flood Zone. You could save significant money on your flood insurance premiums! Wouldn’t that be something?