As you shop for insurance for your home, it’s important to look at all of the types of insurance that you might need. Homeowners insurance is a necessity. After that, you have to look at whether you need Florida flood insurance or not. This is in addition to what you would pay for home insurance.

ARE YOU IN A FLOOD ZONE?

FEMA is responsible for identifying flood zones across Florida. These include areas that are directly on the water, such as those along the Atlantic coast, Gold Coast, and around large bodies of water. Those who are around Lake Okeechobee as well as around St. John’s River will be categorized as a flood zone because of the likelihood of flooding.

When there is a significant amount of rainfall, the different bodies of water will overfill. This is when flooding is a greater risk.

If you are identified as being in a flood zone, Florida flood insurance is required. The reason for this is because homeowner’s insurance companies want the added protection. They know that there is a greater chance of flooding and therefore they want you to have the protection on your home. Without the added coverage, your home could be damaged and they wouldn’t have the means to get your home back to its original condition.

WHAT IF YOU’RE NOT IN A FLOOD ZONE?

Flood zones are created by FEMA using a letter system. There are flood zones A, B, and so on. Even though you might not be in a direct flood zone, you might be close to one. This means that there is still a decent chance of your home experiencing some flooding – especially if there is a hurricane or a significant amount of rainfall.

When you are looking at buying Florida flood insurance, important to determine whether you really need it or not. Many homeowners prefer to purchase it as a way of protecting themselves. It’s hard to determine where a hurricane is going to fall each year. People who never thought their homes would flood have experienced flooding.

When it comes to purchasing Florida flood insurance, you may or may not have decisions. If you are inside of a flood zone, the insurance is required of you. The only decision you have is to decide where you are going to purchase the insurance from. There are multiple insurance companies that provide flood insurance to Florida homeowners. If you don’t live in a flood zone, you can determine whether you want to purchase it or not.

By working with an independent insurance agent, you can find out whether you are in a flood zone or not. From there, you can listen to the advice of the insurance agent to help you determine whether you want to spend the money on flood insurance is not required of you.