The entire cost of natural disasters in the US in 2019 was estimated at over $40 billion. Floods are one of the biggest contributors to this — especially in areas prone to flooding. If you live in such an area, flood insurance is certainly something you should consider getting.
While many feel that it is a prohibitive and unnecessary expense, it seems far more reasonable once you look at the price breakdown in greater detail.
With that in mind, here is a quick primer on flood insurance cost, how coverage cost is calculated, and how to know how much insurance at-risk homeowners need to buy:
Do I Have to Get Flood Insurance?
In certain circumstances, flood insurance might be a necessary element of your mortgage contract.
Since the Flood Disaster Protection Act 1973, the federal government has made it mandatory for certain properties to have flood insurance. Specifically, these are properties in a high-risk flood area purchased with a mortgage backed by federal government funds.
This insurance must generally be retained for the duration of the mortgage.
If you do not live in such an area, or your mortgage is not government-backed, flood insurance is not legally mandatory. However, your lender may still insist on it as a condition of the mortgage.
How Is Flood Insurance Cost Calculated?
Like any other type of insurance, flood insurance costs a lot more for some people than others. Flood insurance specialists calculate your premium by reference to a number of factors.
So, how much is flood insurance? The answer for you will depend on the following.
Flood Risk
The closer you are to a high-risk flooding area, the higher your premium will be. To get a better idea of exactly how close you are to such an area, use a flood map.
Construction Methods
The way your house is built has a huge bearing on your premium. Some houses are far more susceptible to flood damage than others.
For example, a house made of wood is far more likely to suffer serious structural damage from flooding than one made of concrete.
Another consideration is the height of your home above ground level. If your house is on a hill it’s less likely to suffer flood damage, and your premium will therefore be lower.
Contents
The contents of your home are usually insured alongside the structure itself. Therefore, the greater the collective value of the goods and fixtures in your house, the higher your flood insurance premium.
Special consideration should be given to valuable goods on the ground floor of the house, such as televisions and white goods.
Getting the Coverage You Need
Flood insurance cost can be a little uninviting, especially if you’ve been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it truly is one of the best investments you can make. After all, if a flood does come and you’re not insured, you could be facing destitution. The bottom line is flood insurance will give you the peace of mind you need to go on living happily in your new home — even if you never need it.
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My wife and I bought a lakeside camp in Maine. The bank required flood insurance as a part of the mortgage as your article describes. The risk of flooding in this location is not zero but it’s quite low. Every year I cringed with the $5000 policy and reasoned that I was paying for beachfront homes in hurricane zones. As a result, I managed my finances to pay off the mortgage last month. The policy comes due in June. It will give me great pleasure to hold on to $5000 every year.