Here's Why Scientists Think Flood Insurance Is A Good Idea

Last updated on 2021/7/18

Being a homeowner is one of the most freeing and independent feelings that any person could have. Owning a home is like having a little piece of this world that you can call your own. A lot of responsibilities come with homeownership, however. That means that you have to invest in products and services that will protect you and your most precious assets at all times. We are going to discuss flood insurance, homeowners insurance, and other products that you may need to purchase for your home. Read through the information and then decide whether investing in such products will be helpful to you. 

Why Flood Insurance is a Good Idea

A 'Road Closed' sign partially covered in flood water lit by the evening sun

Flood insurance is a special policy that specifically covers the damages that one may experience because of a flood. Oftentimes, it's a separate policy from one's homeowner's insurance or other policy because those policies do not include flood coverage. Homeowners may or may not be required to obtain flood insurance by their mortgage companies. In some cases, investing in the coverage is a wise decision because of the risk that a flood will occur in the area. It's usually better to be safe than sorry when it comes to insurance. 

How Flood Insurance Works

Flood insurance works similarly to many other insurance policies. You'll pay a monthly or annual premium that allows you to maintain the insurance. That premium will pay for a certain amount of coverage if a flood occurs. You will also have a deductible. The deductible is the amount of money you will have to pay out of your pocket when you file a claim before the insurance company picks up its portion of the tab. Your deductible could be hundreds of dollars or thousands of dollars, and it will depend on what you choose when you speak to your agent. Policies that have higher deductibles usually have lower premiums and vice versa. You'll choose the plan that seems the most fitting and comfortable for your budget. You will also discuss the amount of coverage with your insurance agent. 

You will need to file a claim with your insurance company if a flood occurs, and you need to use your insurance. You could file a claim by phone or an online process. You'll have to answer a series of questions and then provide proof of the incident and damages. The insurance company will then investigate the matter and pay out the claim if it feels as though you qualify for such a payment.  

Do You Need Flood Insurance?

Your place of residence will determine whether you need to purchase flood insurance or not. Your mortgage company will require you to purchase flood insurance if you live in an area classified as a designated flood plain or Special Flood Hazard Area. No one will force you to purchase flood insurance if you don't live in one of those areas, but you might want to invest in it anyway. A lot of floods occur in areas that aren't necessarily considered hazard zones. Thus, you may want to make that investment to ensure that you're covered in any and all circumstances. 

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What Flood Insurance Covers

A flood insurance policy will cover damages resulting from a flood or erosion caused by a flood. Hurricanes, heavy long-term storms, blocked storm draining systems, dam failure, snow melts, and coastal storm surges are all incidents that can cause the damage that flood insurance covers. 

A flood insurance policy covers two aspects of damage. It covers the structural damages to the policyholder's property, and it covers the personal property loss that person experiences, as well. Personal property may include items such as furniture, clothing, electronics, jewelry, appliances, and so on. Examples of structural damages include the property's foundation, plumbing, and electrical systems, HVAC systems, blinds and shutters, debris removal, carpeting, flooring, trash compactors, and more. The insurance will help the policyholder get back on his or her feet after the devastation occurs. 

What Flood Insurance Does Not Cover

While flood insurance covers quite a bit, there are some things that it simply does not cover. There are also little loopholes and features that make the coverage less than perfect. For example, many policies will not cover you if a flood occurs within the first 30 days of coverage. Some policies also will not cover damages that go over the policy's limits. For example, the policy won't cover a $500,000 home if the policy limit is $300,000. 

Flood insurance policies don't cover landscaping or exterior features, either. Unfortunately, they will not cover living expenses either. Thus, you may have to purchase a separate policy or ask an agent if there's an add-on that can help you maintain your living standards if a flood should occur. 

Flood insurance does not cover vehicles, unfortunately. You may have to go through your auto insurance provider if your car is damaged in a flood. Precious metals and stocks are on the exclusion list, as well. Financial losses that occur because you lose the use of the property do not count for reimbursement either.  

Even with the exceptions and exclusions, flood insurance is a good thing to have. It will help you protect your home, and it will help you recover if you face an untimely disaster.  

What Scientists and Professionals Say About Floods

Scientists and researchers conduct research on floods and natural disasters frequently. These individuals believe that a homeowner would be almost crazy to pass up on securing their home with a good flood insurance policy. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's studies showed that 90 percent of natural disasters involve some type of flooding. Scientists predict that flooding will become much worse in the future for areas that have already been plagued by constant flooding.

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration says that we can expect to see flooding occur 75 out of 365 days a year by the year 2050. What that means for the average homeowner is that preparation is paramount. Investing in a flood insurance policy is one of the best ways to keep assets protected and provide a source of income should a devastating disaster take place. 

The Cost of Flood Insurance

The price of your flood insurance will vary according to several factors. The company you choose, the area in which you live, and the deductibles and benefits that you choose will play a role in the amount of money you have to pay for the coverage. It might be best for you to speak to a broker or contact a reliable comparison company that can help you to look at your options objectively. This person should be neutral and not partial to any specific provider.

How to Choose the Best Flood Insurance Provider

When you're looking for flood insurance, it's important to research your options. You'll want to get benefits from a company that has integrity and amazing customer service skills. You can check a company's reputation with customers by conducting a search and reading consumer reviews. The consumer reviews will give you a lot of information about other people's personal experiences with the providers. You should also visit each potential provider's website and look for information about their credentials and services. Some companies add additional elements such as "about us" pages that allow you to "meet the agents." 

Talk to someone on the phone before you choose a provider. The phone conversation will give you a lot of information about the company's culture and how they handle customers. You can also refer to a company that links itself to a network of insurance providers. They might know which providers will best fit your current needs. Our company is such a provider, and we can help you find the best insurance provider for a variety of coverage types. In fact, it's what we do. We specialize in finding people the financial products that they need. 

How to Get Flood Insurance

It's very easy to get flood insurance once you find potential providers. You'll need to complete a quote request with the providers that interest you. You can do that by telephone or online form. The provider will then issue you a quote. If you agree with the quote, you can arrange to make a payment to start your insurance coverage. That's all there is to it. 


$44,401

The average flood claim payout from the National Flood Insurance Program in 2021.


Two Other Crucial Insurance Types: Life and Homeowners

There are two other types of insurance that you'll need to consider purchasing to protect you from various situations that might arise in your life. Homeowner's insurance and life insurance are items that you need to consider carefully. 

What Is Homeowner's Insurance?

Homeowner's insurance is a special policy that protects homeowners from unexpected incidents. Mortgage companies often require people to purchase homeowners’ insurance before they issue them a mortgage. Some homeowners do not have to purchase insurance, but they would prefer to because it gives them peace of mind. 

What Homeowner's Insurance Covers

Homeowner's insurance usually covers the home and its contents against damage that result from fires, theft, and other incidents. It pays for repairs on the actual home and the replacement of the policyholder's personal contents inside the home. A good homeowner's policy might also pay for living expenses. For example, it might cover a person's hotel or lodging bill during the period when the home is unlivable.

Homeowner's policies also help in situations where other people get hurt inside the homeowner's residence. It pays for medical expenses and the loss of the other person's personal property.

How the Homeowner's Insurance Works

Homeowner's insurance works just like many other types of insurance. It has a premium, a deductible, and a maximum claim payout amount. The covered person has to contact the insurance company if something happens. The insurance company will investigate the incident and decide whether or not to pay the claim. It will cover the claim if it deems the payment as necessary.

The Cost of Homeowner's Insurance

You will need to compare homeowners insurance policies to evaluate the costs truly. Factors such as location, company, and features will affect the pricing. Our company can help to narrow down your search for the perfect homeowner's insurance policy provider. We specialize in finding people the products and services they need for their personal finance profile and health. Our agents will be delighted to help you get a provider that will give you a policy that works well for you. All you have to do is reach out to us by telephone or a short form to get assistance.

When Do You Need Homeowner's Insurance?

The only time that you need to get homeowner's insurance is when your mortgage company requests it. In that case, you will not be allowed to have the mortgage unless you follow their instructions and sign up for a homeowner's policy. Aside from that, it's your decision as to whether you want to invest in a policy or not. It may be in your best interest to do so. You can let out a deep breath and feel at ease when you know you've got a homeowner's policy to protect you and your prized possessions.

What Is Life Insurance?

You might also want to get life insurance to make your personal protection profile complete. A life insurance policy is a policy that pays a lump sum to a beneficiary upon your death. This beneficiary might be your spouse, a child of yours, or someone else. It will pay a certain amount to this individual so that he or she can take care of your funeral arrangements, resolve your debt and household bills, and take care of himself or herself in the process. Life insurance policies can be a small as $10,000, or they can be several million dollars, depending on your needs. 

Who Needs Life Insurance?

Anyone is entitled to apply for a life insurance policy. It's something that can give you peace of mind and confidence that your house will be in order if you have an untimely death. Most employers offer life insurance as a part of their benefits package. However, you can venture out on your own to find a policy that meets your needs. You may have to pass a health physical and answer health-related questions before a life insurance company will cover you with a policy. You might stand the chance of receiving a denial if you have a preexisting condition.

How Life Insurance Works

Life insurance has a monthly premium, as other policies have. You must pay it to keep coverage. Someone will file a claim if something happens to you, and the insurance provider will pay out the claim if necessary. There are several types of insurance policies that you may choose from. They include whole life and term life. A whole life policy lasts as long as your life lasts. A term life insurance policy lasts only for a specified amount of time, and then you must renew it. Employers usually provide their employees with some form of term life insurance. Some life insurance policies can earn cash that you can withdraw while you're alive if you need to. You might consider one of these policies as an alternative to a savings account. An experienced agent can talk to you about the many options you have regarding life insurance policies.

Finding the Best Life Insurance Provider

It's best to conduct a full comparison of life insurance policies before you pick one. You'll need to investigate each potential life insurance company to find one that consumers approve of. In this case, you might want to also talk to someone experienced in life insurance policy jargon and select the best policy for yourself. We can assist you in that category, as well.

Contact Us for Assistance

Finding a good insurance policy of a type can be a daunting task. We're pleased to announce that we are here to help you in any way that you need it. We work as advocates for consumers to help them find the financial products that they need and deserve. We are not a lender or an insurance agent, but we stay connected to such providers to a vast degree. One of our agents can help you find auto, life, flood, and any other type of insurance coverage you might be lacking at this time. We can also help you locate a wealth of financial products such as home loans, auto loans, personal loans, consolidation loans, and more.

Our company is the home of helpful information, as well. We have a database full of information about managing credit and eliminating debt using smart strategies. Our resources can provide you with money-saving tips, financial planning information, and so much more. We consider ourselves as a one-stop-shop for personal finance. You can have 100 percent confidence in our ability to connect you with trustworthy providers who deliver. Contact us to get started on your journey to improve your financial profile. You can reach out by telephone or short form to get started.