Flood insurance in Florida is important for a variety of reasons. Considering the peninsula and how close so many homes are to the water, it’s a way to protect your home. Even when you don’t live near the water, the rainfall itself can be enough to send the water levels over the threshold.

Hurricanes have been known to hit Florida. When they do, flooding is always a problem. It’s important to know how flood insurance can help.

IS FLOOD INSURANCE REQUIRED?

Flood insurance is required in certain parts of Florida. FEMA determines the flood zones. If you fall within a flood zone, then you are required to have flood insurance in addition to your home insurance. However, if you are not within a flood zone, the coverage is optional.

Even if the flood insurance is optional, it might be a good idea to get the coverage. It will ensure that will be able to make a claim if water impacts your property in any way. If there is a significant amount of flooding and you have water coming in here home, there will be damage.

One of the best ways to determine if you need flood insurance or not is to look at FEMA flood zones. If you’re the next zone over, it might be advantageous to get it. Additionally, you want to look to see where the nearest body of water is. If you’re even remotely close to a lake, a river, or one of the coasts, it’s a good idea to pay the extra money for flood insurance.

AM I COVERED IN A HURRICANE?

Many people believe that having home insurance in Florida is enough to cover them against anything that could happen in a hurricane. However, you need to look closely at your policy. There may be caveats that prevent you from being fully covered in the event of a hurricane. You might need a hurricane rider on your policy so that you are covered against wind damage.

Additionally, you have to look at what your insurance policy says about flooding. If you experience a flood due to a hurricane, you might not be covered, even if you have hurricane coverage. You may need flood insurance in addition to hurricane coverage to be fully covered for everything that you might encounter. Without the coverage, your claim would be denied. This means that you would have to spend all the money replacing flooring, drywall, and anything else damaged by the flood water.

By talking with an insurance agent, you will be able to learn more about how to protect yourself against floods and against hurricanes. They will be able to look at the past history in your area to determine if flooding has been an issue. From there, you can get quotes to learn about what the total coverage will be so that you are better protected. Call us today at 904-280-2589 for a FREE quote!