Busting common flood insurance myths

Busting common flood insurance myths
Posted on 01/27/2020
You may know how important it is to insure your home, vehicle and health — but flood insurance often isn’t a priority for many residents, especially if they don’t live near a body of water.

In fact, there are many misconceptions around who needs or is eligible for flood insurance. Here are four top myths about flood insurance, provided by the National Flood Insurance Program.

MYTH: My homeowner’s insurance covers flooding.

In fact, almost no homeowner’s insurance policies cover flood damage. That’s why the federal government created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is sold as a separate policy, so even if your regular agent doesn’t handle flood insurance, it can be obtained from another agent. To find one, contact the NFIP call center at 800.427.4661 or visit
FloodSmart.gov.

MYTH: I don’t need flood insurance because I’m not in a high-risk zone.

The reality is, it can flood almost anywhere, and it doesn’t take much water to cause expensive damage. In fact, about one-third of all flood disaster assistance and one-third of all flood insurance claims payments go to people who have been flooded even though they were outside of the mapped high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area).

With a changing climate, scientists say that extreme weather events will be more likely in the future. So living in a location that so far has been thought to be at low risk does not mean that is safe now.

MYTH: I can’t get flood insurance, because I’m not in a high-risk zone.

Virtually anyone who lives in or owns property in an NFIP-participating community like Lenexa can buy flood insurance for a residential building, business, condo or apartment, and the contents can be insured as well (or instead). For people outside the high-risk zone, flood insurance is an even better deal, because premiums are lower.

MYTH: Even if my house did flood, it wouldn’t be by much.

There may not be very much water, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be much damage. Only one inch of water in an average home can cause more than $25,000 in damage.

Published Jan. 27, 2020