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For as long as humans have been cooking with open flames inside of a shelter, we have been trying to mitigate the risk of fire in our homes. A residential fire is a homeowner’s worst nightmare—damage to property is often total, and the safety of loved ones and pets can be in jeopardy. Each year, fires are responsible for over 2,500 deaths and $7 billion in property damage.¹

When researching flood insurance policies, whether by personal choice or by mandate from your mortgage company, price is likely one of the aspects that is high on your inquiry list. For many people, there are two policy options: the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and private market flood insurance, both of which can be purchased through a licensed insurance agent.

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the country. According to FEMA, a mere inch of flood water in your home can result in over $27,000 in property damage! Despite this, homeowner’s insurance does not typically cover damages caused by flooding!

Floods are the number one natural disaster in the United States,¹ and unfortunately, many Americans do not have flood insurance to protect their homes and belongings. The following states have the most homes in the highest flood risk zones.¹ Hover over each state to view declared [as defined by The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)] floods and natural disasters that have occurred since 1953.²

When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, it left over 200,000 damaged homes in its wake, and caused $125 billion in total damages. Of the houses and businesses affected by the storm, 80% were located outside of the 100 year flood plain. The vast majority of these property owners did not have flood insurance.

Experiencing major damage to your beloved home after a flood can be devastating. Sadly, it doesn’t take very much water to cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home and your belongings. In fact, according to FEMA, just one inch of water can cause more than $25,000 worth of damage. If you, unfortunately, experience flood damage, the first thing that you’ll want to do is begin the steps to file a claim with your flood insurance provider.

In light of recent weather-related events, some of you may be re-evaluating your home's flood insurance coverage. Since flood insurance is not something an average homeowner may be overly concerned with, when determining if your home and family really need it, you probably have many questions that come to mind.

During the first half of 2015, there were 80 natural disasters across the U.S., including severe thunderstorms, winter storms, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, heat waves, and droughts, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The insurance losses for these disasters is estimated at $8,200,000, but more devastatingly are the 154 fatalities.

We all know Mother Nature is unpredictable and out of our control, but what we can control is how prepared we are when disaster (or the zombie apocalypse) strikes. If you don't have an emergency kit for your home and car, start assembling them today, and use our infographic as a guide to help you prepare.

Natural disasters can arise at a moment's notice. When you least expect it, depending on where you live, you should be cautious of floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and other geologic processes beyond our control.