Flood Insurance FAQs

Safety and Protection

September 04, 2025

Flood insurance is more important than ever now that severe weather is increasingly common. Damages from floods are often excluded from homeowner’s insurance policies, so protection is crucial.

But it doesn’t take severe weather to cause flood damage. A single inch of flood water can cause major damage to your home.

Let’s go through some frequently asked questions about flood insurance:

Do I Need Flood Insurance if I’m Not in a Flood Zone?

Here’s the truth: flood zones are based on risk of flood. Every location could flood, even if it is at a lower risk. One flood can do thousands of dollars of damage.

Also, floods don’t stop at the flood line. So, if you’re in a low-risk flood zone that’s located near higher risk zones, the water can easily flow into your area when floods occur.

Lower risk areas often have more affordable flood insurance options. Even if your home lender doesn’t require it, flood insurance can help protect your home and your wallet.

Is Flood Insurance Expensive?

Flood insurance costs are based on several factors, like what flood zone you’re located in. Costs for flood insurance are very competitive, especially when compared to the cost of flood damage.

Let’s put it into perspective. One inch of water can cause $25,000 of damage, according to FEMA. That means even everyday rain can cause damage that demolishes your home and bank account.

Comparatively, flood insurance is affordable and provides priceless peace of mind.

Aren’t Floods Unlikely in Most Areas?

Just because you haven’t had a flood doesn't mean you won’t. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never had a flood, as it only takes one to cause serious issues and cost serious money.

Sometimes people think they won’t get another flood if they’ve already had one, because they hear phrases like a "100-year flood."

In fact, the term, "100-year flood" doesn’t refer to a flood happening only once every 100 years. It really means that a flood event has a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in a given year.

Won’t FEMA Help Me If There’s a Flood?

Whether or not FEMA assists after a flood depends on whether the event was declared a federal disaster. Since a small amount of water can do a large amount of damage, FEMA assistance is not always an option.

Even if FEMA assistance is possible, it is often a small loan rather than a payout. In other words, you can’t rely on FEMA to help after a flood. Since the damage can be so expensive, even if FEMA helps, it is unlikely to cover the entirety of costs.

Flood insurance doesn’t require a federal disaster or a major storm to provide coverage. It is a much safer option with much larger potential payouts.

How Can I Learn More About My Specific Flood Insurance Options?

When you’re ready to find out your specific flood insurance options, you can get a quote. This will consider your home’s flood zone, the construction, foundation, occupancy, and distance to flood sources.

Flood insurance doesn’t require a federal disaster or a major storm to provide coverage. It is a much safer option with much larger potential payouts.

Get a Quote

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