Think You're Not at Risk of Flooding? Think Again.
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The record flooding in the Midwest over the past few days serves as a reminder for homeowners and businesses that you never know the might of Mother Nature, so taking out a flood insurance policy can be a good idea.
Over the past few days, runoff from heavy rainfall combined with large amounts of snowmelt caused creeks and rivers—including parts of the Missouri River—to swell. That, in turn, led to flooding in parts of Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, as well as the deaths of at least two people.
Unfortunately, many people underestimate their flooding risk, says Lynne McChristian, a consultant with the New York-based Insurance Information Institute, a nonprofit trade group.
Yet 90 percent of all natural disasters include some form of flooding, and roughly 20 percent of claims processed by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are from areas considered at low or moderate risk of flooding (when heavy snows melt quickly and cause floods, for example).
How to Buy Flood Insurance
You can buy national flood insurance from an agent or insurer participating in the NFIP (check with your agent or insurance company for details). The average annual premium is about $700. If you own a moderate- to low-risk property, the average is $420.
There are caps: $250,000 per residence and $100,000 for contents under an NFIP policy, or $500,000 per residence and $250,000 for contents under private flood coverage. (Renters can also insure their belongings up to the $100,000 NFIP limit.) Private insurers may sell excess flood insurance above those maximums.
NFIP flood insurance kicks in 30 days after purchase, so you’ll want to buy well before a big storm is on the way. Private flood insurers generally waive the wait period.
To get an assessment of your flood risk, go to the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and enter your address for the official flood insurance rate map for your area.
Editor's Note: A version of this article also appeared in the October 2018 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. It has been corrected to clarify that NFIP insurance is available only through insurance agents or participating insurers.
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