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24 Aug

How to Prepare your Home for Hurricane Damage

Hurricane season in the United States is a time that reminds many of us to be prepared for natural disasters. Hurricanes are not only dangerous because of their high winds and heavy rain, but they can also cause extensive and costly damage to homes. In fact, some of the most damaging hurricanes, like Hurricane Katrina, have caused billions of dollars of repairs. This article will give you 11 steps on how to prepare your home for hurricane damage.

#1 Know Your Risk Zone

A hurricane is a storm of extraordinary power that can cause great damage and loss of life. The most destructive hurricanes often form in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Pacific Ocean from June to November. These storms usually develop from intense tropical waves near Africa or off the coast.

#2 Prepare your hurricane kit

Get a hurricane kit ready and be sure to have batteries, water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, flashlights, and radios on hand in case there is an emergency. You will also want to make sure you are prepared with things like cash and important documents that you won’t want to replace after the storm. Ensure that items like social security cards, birth certificates, and insurance policies are stored in water-tight containers.

#3 Know what’s covered

Make sure you have the right insurance. You will need to make a note of what types of coverage your home and belongings currently have, as well as any other items that may not be covered like water damage. If you are renting or leasing your residence, contact your landlord about their policy and find out if they offer renters insurance. If you live in a hurricane-prone area, it’s likely your insurance won’t cover flood damage caused by storms. This will be a separate add-on you’ll need to include in your policy.

#4 Take care of outdoor items in your yard.

  • Mulch the ground around trees and fruit plants, protecting them from gashes caused by wind or heavy rain that may occur during a storm.
  • Stock up on sandbags to help prevent water damage in cases of flooding, as well as other emergency supplies.
  • Store all items that are currently outside, like bikes, grills, and furniture. These items should be brought into the garage or basement to keep them safe from severe weather.
  • Trim branches high up on trees so they don’t cause damage if heavy winds cause them to break and fall on your roof.

#5 Protect your windows and doors

Windows should also be covered with storm shutters if you have them. If you don’t have storm shutters, consider using plywood to nail onto your windows. Windows may shatter in high winds or debris flying into them. Not only will this be costly, it’s also dangerous. Cover vulnerable areas of the house such as air conditioning units, vents, pipes and chimneys by putting boards over them to keep rain out of them.

#6 Protect your roof

Make sure that your roof is protected from any flying debris that may cause your roof to be punctured or torn. If you have a garden in front of your house, make sure the plants are not blocking windows and doors. Plants can also act as an anchor for windblown objects such as heavy branches or trees. Remove them if they’re possible hazards before hurricane season.

#7 Inspect the exterior of your house

After storing items in your yard and protecting your roof, check for loose boards or bricks which may cause flooding or other damage to your home.

#8 Have an escape route in case of flooding

Make sure you have the appropriate supplies on hand just in case your house becomes flooded or unsafe during a hurricane. Put evacuation plans together with friends and family so everyone knows what to do if they need to evacuate their homes for any reason

#9 Take photos before the storm hits

Be sure to take photos of everything inside your home before the storm hits for insurance purposes. Many home insurance policies cover damage from winds. Remember, flooding insurance is an add-on to most policies.

#10 Put together an emergency evacuation kit

Put together an emergency kit of items your family may need in case they have to evacuate their home. This includes food, water, first-aid supplies and any medications you or anyone else in the household takes on a regular basis.

#11 Create an evacuation plan

Make sure your family has a plan for where to meet if you are evacuated from your home. Know multiple routes to reach your destination in case of flooding or debris blocking roads.

Preparing your home for hurricane damage can save you thousands of dollars in repairs

These tips will help you prepare your home for hurricane season and minimize damage. Remember, it’s critical to have a plan in place to protect your home, your family members, and yourself during hurricane season.

01 Oct

Securing your home from the flood: 5 Flood safety tips

Flood Safety Tips

Securing your home from the flood: 5 Flood safety tips

Guest post by Jack Billington

Flooding in the United States is the most common natural disaster and is one of the few natural disasters that affect every American in every state. The definition of a flood is an overflow of water on land which is usually dry. This means that a flood can come from natural sources or man-made sources, and these include

Flooding includes every water-borne danger from overflowing rivers to rain cascading down hillsides and includes man-made flooding disasters such as broken water mains and clogged gutters. Whether you live in a natural flood-prone zone or not, a flood can happen, and will most probably happen at least once in your lifetime.

Here is a list of the 5 basics that you need to consider securing your home from a flood.

  1. Clean Gutters and Drains

Whether you live in your own home or an apartment building, you must ensure that the gutters and drains are all clean. These small devices are used to allow the water and snow are accumulating during rains and storms to flow freely away from your home. When a gutter or drain is clogged the accumulating water will find the fastest route away from the area, and that usually includes a pathway through your property. For higher positioned drains and gutters this means watering entering from above, trickling down into your home, or for ground-level waters to seep in through the walls or windows around your home, as well as up into your basement or underground floor levels.

Street drains are also a major issue since they are flowing public water amounts accumulated from many zones, as such, a blocked street drain will affect more than one home nearby. Saying this leads us to recommend you check the drainage around your home, especially if you live near a river or in a rainy area, and make sure you have flood barriers available.

  1. Assure Roof Protection

A roof is a construct designed to keep the elements out of your home and retain the heat, light, dryness, and integrity of your interior. As such a roof needs to be checked every year, especially before the rainy and snowy seasons. Even the smallest of holes or cracks in a roof will allow water to seep in and affect other parts of the internal structure, leading to larger issues, such as damp electricity line. However, a hole in the roof or a gutter that is total blocked will cause waters to cascade into your property, and that is something you must avoid. A simple walk over your roof is usually easy to perform to check the integrity of this house seal. I also suggest you perform an indoor roof check during daylight hours to see if you can see any light coming in from the roof. This usually is apparent in homes without insulation. So, if you don’t have insulation, check inside as well as outdoors. Make sure your roof is intact.

  1. Local Threat levels

Consider where you live. Do you live in a flood-prone zone, where rising river overflows regularly, or by the sea close to the water line? Perhaps you live in the city in a high rise, or in the mountains? Is your home high above the ground, or under a hill or even below the ground level?  Knowing the dangers of your area, from mild to extreme enable you to prepare accordingly. Some homes will require flood bags deployed from the onset of the rainy seasons to others that require you just maintain clean gutters and drains. You might need to deploy flood barriers to protect against seasonal flooding.

  1. Flood Insurance

This is not a protective measure from flooding; it’s a protective measure from the aftereffects that flood brings. There are different types of water level insurances, ranging from natural flooding to damage from water. You require full coverage if you live in a flood-prone zone, and there the premium will be high. If you live in a dry location or a high rise in a city, consider standard flooding coverage the premium is low but well worth paying for against the risks of losing furniture through water damage.

Always check the insurance coverage properly, this means read what is covered by the policy, in some instances a sewage overflow will not be covered it does not originate from natural flooding. So, take heed, insurance coverage is notorious for double and triple speak, and the words are designed to be confusing, obtuse and debatable in court. When taking out insurance, make sure you have an exact and up to date list of your property items, and if you want to be extra careful, take a photo of every room in your home once in a while.

  1. Power Down

My final tip is being aware that flooding is a major issue when linked to electricity. These two items like to dance the tango, and if you stand in their way, you will be hit hard. This means, that when there is a flood issue in your home, whether it’s from the roof, the walls, the basement, or from natural flooding, turn off the electricity at the mains. This is a major issue and lifesaver, in this case, just make sure you have separate heating and lighting options around the house during flooding.

Conclusions

There is no ultimate protection against a natural flooding disaster other than getting out of the area in time, and of course, deploying flood barriers, securing all your electronic devices and turning off the electricity in time. If you live in a non-natural flood-prone zone, just make sure you follow the basic precautionary checks and, in all instances, no matter where you live, take out water damage insurance.

 

Author’s bio: Jack is a former officer. Now, he works as a home & personal security expert. Also, time after time, he conducts shooting classes. He has 15 years of professional experience in home security improvement. On his blog, he write articles on home & personal safety, guns & gun safe accessories, emergency preparedness, etc.

15 Aug

Texas Private Flood Insurance

Texas private flood insurance quote

Texas is a giant state and is the second largest state in the United States after Alaska.  Much of the state of Texas is quite dry and Arid, but it also has a gigantic coastline that spans much of the gulf of Mexico.   As natural disasters become more and more frequent, and contain greater strength, the need for insurance becomes a pressing issue for homeowners – even those that are not in designated flood zones.  Previously, you could only obtain flood insurance through the Federal Government’s National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP for short.  However, there are now many Texas Private Flood Insurance options available for property owners in the lone star state.

How does Texas Private flood insurance differ from the NFIP program?  There are a few key differences.  With the FEMA / NFIP flood insurance, you are limited to a maximum dwelling coverage of $250,000 for your dwelling, and $100,000 for your personal contents.  This also does not cover any personal contents that are below grade (IE in a basement of a home)  The various Texas Private flood insurance options allow for higher coverage limits than the NFIP and will cover basement contents as well.   Another key difference between the NFIP and Texas private flood insurance companies is that the premiums for the private insurers are a lot more affordable.  The caveat here is that the private companies do not insure every property that is requested, and are somewhat more selective in their risk pool.  The NFIP is forced to cover everyone that lives in a flood plain, and as such is subsidizing those who live in homes that have repeatedly flooded over the years.  As you might imagine, this has caused the NFIP to be over 25 billion dollars in debt, especially after some of the more major storms such as Hurricanes Katrina, Irene, and most recently in Texas, Hurricane Harvey.

Texas Private flood insurance doesn’t just extend to those who live in A zones, but also is available for lower risk properties in 500  year floodplains (marked as X zones on the FEMA maps) While your house may reside in an X zone, it’s wise to keep in mind that almost a third of all flood losses in the United states occur in these “low risk” zones, and your regular homeowner’s policy does NOT cover the peril of flood.   Protect your biggest investment, your home, from the dangers of flooding with a Texas Private flood insurance policy today.

Get a quote for Texas Private Flood Insurance

22 Feb

Flooding Maps

In today’s blog article, I just wanted to share a useful resource that the National Weather Service provides.  It’s an interactive flooding maps tool that will allow you to see where in the United States is currently at risk of Major, Moderate, and minor flood events.

Using these flooding maps is a great way to assess your risk of a flood event damaging your home and property.  Because these are updated regularly, you can see how the flooding risk will change throughout the year and in different areas of the country.

To view the flooding maps page, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service website using this link.

Additionally, if you’re curious about if your home is in or near a high risk flood zone, you can use the FEMA flooding maps tool at this link.  This map has a lot of data and can let you know if your home is within the boundries of a high risk flood zone (varations marked by the letter “A”) or a low to moderate risk zone (known as X zones).   If your home is in a special flood hazard area (SFHA)  your lender will more than likely require that you have purchased flood insurance as condition of your mortgage.

 

To visit the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program’s mapping system, you can click here.  

Once you’ve reached the FEMA GeoPlatform hub, select flooding,  Once you’ve done this, click the link to the FEMA National Flood Hazard Official Layer as shown in the picture below. Finally,  type your property’s address into the search bar in the upper right hand corner of the map and the system will allow you to see where your home’s location resides in conjunction with the flooding maps.   This is a valuable tool to give you an idea if a home you’re looking to purchase may require flood insurance in order to fund your loan.

15 Feb

Flood Insurance Coverage

flood insurance coverage, private flood insurance coverage

Hello there.  If you’ve come to this post out on the big wide world web,  you were probably curious about flood insurance and flood insurance coverage.  Now, most homeowners in the United States simply don’t carry flood insurance, and while I personally think that’s not the best idea, it is the reality.   Those who do carry flood insurance coverage are likely to be required by their mortgage provider to carry it.

Flood insurance became a pressing issue after 1927 during the infamous 1927 Mississippi River flood, in which 27,000 square miles were covered with water, 246 people died and more than 700,000 people were displaced.  The federal government then began taking an interest in protecting homeowners from flooding disasters, and the Flood control act of 1928, which charged the army corp of engineers to re work major rivers with various levees, channels and drainage control measures designed to control overflow of the nation’s rivers.

Continued development of homes and businesses within flood plains, however, forced the 1968 US congress to implement the National Flood Insurance Act, creating the NFIP as we know it today (National Flood insurance program)

the NFIP had 4 major goals:

  • To emphasis less costly non structural flood control measures
  • Reduce federal disaster costs, shifting the burdon from all taxpayers to those who were land owners in flood plains
  • Provide homeowners with affordable flood insurance coverage
  • Encourage communities to take action on the local scale to reduce likelihood of flooding damage and mitigate new construction from the risk of future flooding events.

As of the year 2012, there are over 5 million national flood insurance policies active nation wide.

The NFIP, however, has been battered by payouts from major flooding and  hurricane disasters, especially after the most well known flooding disaster in the United States, Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  As such, premiums for flood insurance have increased and in some situations are increasing at a rate of 25% each year.

Many people are now looking outside of the National Flood Insurance Program for their flood insurance coverage.   Here at Save Flood Insurance Agency Inc, we have partnered with some of the best private flood insurance companies in the world, and strive to provide an excellent flood insurance coverage product at an affordable price.

Our flood insurance coverage policies meet all the same federal requirements for Lenders, just like an NFIP policy would, but they are often up to 50% less expensive in yearly premiums.

If you’re looking to get a quote for flood insurance coverage, fill out the form below.

08 Feb

Worst flood disasters in US History

The US has seen it’s share of natural disasters throughout it’s history, and flooding seems to be one of the most destructive and common types of natural disasters possible.  Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it (or at least that’s what my history teacher always said).   Here’s a quick list of the 5 worst flood disasters in United States history:

Worst Flood Disasters in the United States:

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Mississippi River Flood 1993:

This devastating flood occurred between April and October of 1993.   A total flooded area of nearly 30,000 square miles and for a duration of 81 days, this flood caused 50 deaths and ~$15 billion dollars in damage.

Learn more: http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2070796_2070798_2070783,00.html

Big Thompson Canyon, Colorado, 1976

This flash flood occurred in the Big Thompson Canyon in the mountains west of Loveland, Colorado.  A very sudden and large wall of water rushed down the canyon after a day of extremely heavy rains (12-14 inches)  The water in the canyon was usually at a level of 18 inches, and this turned in to a 20 foot torrent that destroyed homes, roads and all infrastructure.   143 were killed and more than 150 were injured in this natural disaster.  The costs were 35 million in damage and a loss of 418 homes, 52 businesses & 438 vehicles.   Here’s a Denver Post archived article about the event. 

Rapid City South Dakota, 1972

Floods are scary events, but even more scary when they occur in the dead of night.  This flash flood killed 238 people and cost $165 million.    Also referred to as the Black Hills Flood, this like the Big Thompson flood was caused by an extremely heavy amount of rain that fell over a short period of time ( 15 inches in only 6 hours)  Estimates say over 1335 homes and 5,000 vehicles were destroyed.

Mississippi River Flood 1927

This event is largely considered to be the most destructive flooding event that ever happened in US history.   Known as the Great MIssissippi Flood, the damage  covered 27,000 square miles drenched with up to 30 feet of water.    This event was the cause of the Federal government to create a gigantic system of floodways and levees.   Estimates were 500 people dead and over 700,000 people were left homeless as a result of this disaster.

Boulder County Colorado 2013

Another flooding disaster that was the result of heavy rains,  the flooding in 2013 in Boulder county left 200 miles and 17 counties flooded.  17 inches of rain within a few days fell, which is comparable to Boulder’s annual precipitation.    This disaster caused $1 billion in damages and killed 8 people.  Many smaller towns in and around the mountains were stranded for several days and required rescue from the national guard.

Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans 2005

No list of flood disasters would be complete without mentioning Hurricane Katrina.  The most expensive natural disaster to ever happen in the United States, this hurricane and subsequent flooding leveled New Orleans and much of the Louisiana coast line, killing 1,800 and creating $81 billion dollars in damages.   Over a decade later, the area still struggles to recover and many of the former residents never returned.

Taking a look back at the worst flood disasters in the US is important – and it’s important to ask yourself if you’re covered for a flooding disaster like this.  Get a quote for flood insurance today. 

12 Dec

Mandatory Flood Insurance

One of the things that’s confusing for homeowners is the question of mandatory flood insurance.  As a homeowner, do I need flood insurance?  The question really lies in where your home sits in relation to FEMA’s flood zone maps.   That is the key difference between mandatory flood insurance, or not needing to carry it at all.  Having said that, keep in mind that almost a third of all flood insurance claims happen in low to moderate risk zones, and normal homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flooding events in their list of covered perils.

Get a flood insurance quote

Mandatory Flood Insurance basic concepts:

Where is my house located?

Luckily, the public has access to FEMA’s flood risk maps, which can be accessed here.

You will want to pull up the location of your home and see if it resides in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)  – these are commonly marked on the map by “A” zones.  “X” zones are a lower (.02%) annual risk of flooding, verses the A risk (traditionally called a 100 year flood plain, which represents of a 1% chance of a flood every year)

Take for example the picture below.  Now, this flood zone hazard map can be a little daunting and difficult to read to the untrained eye, but as a basic concept – if your home were covered even partially by the blue shading, that would mean you’re in an AE zone or special flood hazard area, and mandatory flood insurance would be the result.  Now, remember it’s not the government mandating you have the insurance, but your mortgage company.  Because they have a financial stake in your property until the loan is fully paid off, they will be the ones requiring that you as the owner carry this mandatory flood insurance.

mandatory flood insurance map

Having noted this, once your mortgage is paid off, you won’t have mandatory flood insurance, but it’s still probably a good idea to carry it.  If you reside in a home that is in the orange shaded area, this would be an X zone representing the lower flood risk – but there’s still a flood risk.    Take for example the events of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey –  Harvey in particular, 80% of the victims of the event didn’t carry flood insurance.   Want to read more on that?  Check out this article from USA Today.

So, yes – mandatory flood insurance is a thing that can be imposed on you by your lender.  But even if flood insurance isn’t mandated, it’s a pretty darn good idea to carry it even if you think your home will “never flood”.

Non Mandatory Flood Insurance

I personally live in a very dry state, Colorado.  There’s no active streams or rivers anywhere near my home, only an old dry gulch.  Below are some images from a video I shot in the spring of 2016 outside our home.  A normally dry area was inundated with water just from one day of heavy rain.  It can happen anywhere!  So, if you are looking to get flood insurance at an affordable rate, you can get a quote with Save Flood Insurance Agency Inc today.

street after heavy rain caused flash flooding

30 Nov

Do I need Flood Insurance

Do I need flood insurance?

Hello there!  If you’ve stumbled upon this post whilst searching the internet, you were probably curious about flood insurance.  “Do I need flood insurance” is a pretty common thing for a homeowner to ask, especially if you live in a low lying area, or near a river, lake or the ocean.  The answer to your question can vary, but “do I need flood insurance” is a very common thing we hear in this business.

Now first off, there should be a distinction between the phrase “do I need flood insurance” and “should I have flood insurance”.  Technically,  if your property does not sit within what has been mapped by FEMA as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA for short)  you may not be required by your mortgage company to carry flood insurance.  However, on the other side of the coin – I think that every homeowner should have a flood insurance policy. You must remember that your normal homeowner’s insurance will not cover the peril of flood ( things like broken pipes or an overflowing bathtub may be covered in a typical homeowner’s policy, but those are not by definition the peril of flood.

Flood is defined in the insurance industry as:

  • A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of 2 or more acres of normally dry land area or of 2 or more properties (at least 1 of which is the policyholder’s property) from:
    –Overflow of inland or tidal waters; or
    –Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or
    –Mudflow; or
  • Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined above.

So, do I need flood insurance?

At Save Flood insurance agency Inc, we do suggest that every homeowner have a flood insurance policy.  Even if you think your home could never flood, you might be surprised to learn that over 25% of all flood related claims occur in moderate to low risk flood zones.  Take for example all the recent hurricanes and extreme weather events.  Even if you’re not located near a body of water, heavy sustained rains, snow storms, and other weather events can potentially flood your home.

If you would like to get a free quote for flood insurance, please fill out the form below.  Our private market underwriters and selective systems allow us to save you up to 50% on a flood policy when compared to the NFIP / FEMA programs.

27 Nov

California Flood Insurance

California Flood Insurance Company Save Flood Insurance Agency Inc

Eureka!  California is a truly beautiful place, and that’s why so many have made it their home.  However,  many places in California run a high risk of flood related damage.  That’s why it’s vital that if you live in a flood zone, that you acquire California flood insurance.

California Flood Insurance – is it required?

There’s a simple way to know if your property will require flood insurance in California, and you can check your property’s proximity to a flood zone by using the FEMA flood zone mapping system.    Typically, if you are purchasing a property using a mortgage and the home resides in a high risk flood zone (often labeled  A Zones)  your lender will require you to carry California flood insurance as part of qualifying for the loan.   What many people are not aware of is that there are private market California flood insurance alternatives to the Federal government’s NFIP program.

Get a flood insurance quote

Save Flood Insurance Agency Inc is one of these private market alternatives, and we strive to provide a more affordable flood insurance policy.   We can insure single family homes, condo units, a Master Condo HOA policy, or non residential buildings.   We encourage you to look at your options regarding flood insurance and assess your risk.  Although you may reside in a “low risk” flood hazard zone, it’s important to consider that every property can potentially get flood damage, and that a normal homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover flooding events.

California Flood Preparedness

California flood insurance risk map

California Flood risk map- image courtesy of http://www.water.ca.gov

There are many things homeowners can do in order to better prepare their properties and families against the peril of flooding.

Floodplains are generally flat areas adjacent to watercourses or the sea where water flows in time of flood or would flow, if not for the presence of flood protection. So, even if a community has flood protection provided by levees or sea walls, that community is still in a floodplain – it is just better protected than it would be without levees and sea walls because while levees and sea walls reduce the risk of flooding, they do not completely eliminate the risk or consequences of flooding.

However, floodplains are not always flat. They can also be sloped and curved as is the case with alluvial fans.

Because floodplains vary so widely in size, shape, and potential depth of flooding, probably the best way to think of floodplains is that they are any land area that is subject to inundation by flood waters from any source. And, this is where things can get a bit tricky: we can’t always see our potential flooding sources because of distance or other reasons, or we don’t think of small creeks or streams producing extreme flooding.

Due to California’s diverse geography, we have all three major types of floodplains: alluvial fan, coastal, and riverine as well as other, less common, types of floodplains.

To learn more about California Flood preparedness, please visit the California Department of Water resources flooding page. 

 

**Save Flood Insurance Agency Inc policies  are not available in City and County of Sacramento***

21 Nov

What is a Flood Zone?

Flood Zone - what is a Flood zone?

In the world of flood insurance, the most important factor in rating a particular property is determining the flood zone the property resides in.  Now, it’s important to remember that every property is in a flood zone, and flooding can happen literally anywhere!  Your home may sit on a hill or an elevated position, but it still can potentially be susceptible to a flooding event.

Understanding what a flood zone is

Flood zone maps were introduced by FEMA and are known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).  These maps show the relative risk a property has when calculating for the proximity to different low lying or water containing areas.  The flood zones are broken into several categories.

Flood hazard areas identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map are identified as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). SFHA are defined as the area that will be inundated by the flood event having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 1-percent annual chance flood is also referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood. SFHAs are labeled as Zone A, Zone AO, Zone AH, Zones A1-A30, Zone AE, Zone A99, Zone AR, Zone AR/AE, Zone AR/AO, Zone AR/A1-A30, Zone AR/A, Zone V, Zone VE, and Zones V1-V30. Moderate flood hazard areas, labeled Zone B or Zone X (shaded) are also shown on the FIRM, and are the areas between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (or 500-year) flood. The areas of minimal flood hazard, which are the areas outside the SFHA and higher than the elevation of the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood, are labeled Zone C or Zone X (unshaded).  Read more here on the FEMA website.

Want to check to see if you’re in a flood zone?  Use the FEMA National Flood Hazard Map layer and type in your address. 

Basically, you can break down a flood zone into two basic categories:

High flood risk areas

These areas area in what is commonly referred to as residing in a “100 year flood zone” and has at least a 1% annual chance of flooding.   That equates to a 26% chance the property will flood over the life of a 30 year mortgage!  Homeowners that have a federally insured mortgage that live in these areas will be required by law to carry flood insurance.   On flood zone maps, these will be labeled as an “A”  or “V” zone.

Moderate & low flood risk areas

These areas still run the risk of flooding, but it is much lesser than those that reside in a high risk area.  On flood zone maps, they are labeled with the letters B, X or C .  While property owners in these low to moderate risk areas aren’t required to carry flood insurance, it is still recommended as a regular homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover the peril of flooding.

Obtaining Flood Zone Insurance

Save Flood Insurance agency Inc offers a private market alternative to the NFIP policies offered by the Federal government.  If you would like to get a quote for flood insurance, please fill out the form below.