Flood Threat and Map ...

[Uncle Timmy]

Uncle Timmy is right, that a lot of water damage caused by hurricanes would be covered by wind insurance. But there are gray areas. When I purchased flood insurance on our Tampa home (also $317 for 250K coverage) I pressed USAA about what would happen if our home were wiped out by a massive hurricane that rolls up Tampa Bay. Our home would probably take $450-$500K to rebuild. Say it's a Cat 4 or 5 and struck in the sweet spot ... with a storm that major, you have to assume the winds would do a ton of damage also. If almost nothing is left, how could you tell what was flood and what was wind? Did I really need more than $250K in flood insurance?

The USAA rep told me that in that case, the adjusters would take into account damage from both sources and part of the payment would come from flood, part from wind. I actually believe USAA would do this because I consider them to be an ethical company. I wonder if that holds true for all. I know that the odds are incredibly slim of this happening (there has never been standing water on my street and my neighbor has lived here for 50 years!) but I still think the $250K flood limit is too low. Construction costs have gone WAY up in the past 10 years and it does not cover as much as it used to.

TooFar,

You are raising an good point, and one which goes to the heart of the confusion about Flood Insurance.

A few posters have referenced the debate that raged after Katrina about whether Flood or Windstorm Insurance should pay for the damages caused by the Storm Surge in MS and the flooding in New Orleans. A very grey area indeed. However, either way; this issue still deals with innundation due to rising ground water.

If you are located in an area outside of any flood zone (please see applicable maps), and you are out of a storm surge zone (please see applicable maps), and your house is raised well above grade, -and it is unlikely your house will be flooded by rising ground water, Flood Insurance may be unneccesary.

There are other factors to consider, PLEASE make an INFORMED decision about your specific situation.

But, again, Flood Insurance is not required for everyone living in south Walton.

 

[TooFarTampa]

TooFar,

You are raising an good point, and one which goes to the heart of the confusion about Flood Insurance.

A few posters have referenced the debate that raged after Katrina about whether Flood or Windstorm Insurance should pay for the damages caused by the Storm Surge in MS and the flooding in New Orleans. A very grey area indeed. However, either way; this issue still deals with innundation due to rising ground water.

If you are located in an area outside of any flood zone (please see applicable maps), and you are out of a storm surge zone (please see applicable maps), and your house is raised well above grade, Flood Insurance may be unneccesary.

There are other factors to consider, PLEASE make an INFORMED decision about your specific situation.

But, again, Flood Insurance is not required for everyone living in south Walton.

I agree with you. For the most part if your portion of the storm surge map shows white you don't need it. We are white in Seacrest but decided to purchase the insurance for the aforementioned reasons. In Tampa we are in the light red (Cat 4) zone. If we were a little farther north I wouldn't even bother.

 

[Uncle Timmy]

I agree with you. For the most part if your portion of the storm surge map shows white you don't need it. We are white in Seacrest but decided to purchase the insurance for the aforementioned reasons. In Tampa we are in the light red (Cat 4) zone. If we were a little farther north I wouldn't even bother.

There are other factors to consider though. In my neighborhood, we are at a very high elevation, and well away from Flood or Surge areas; and yet a few of the lots down the street from me sit in a natural depression which can hold water after a heavy rain.

If I lived on those lots, I would have Flood Insurance since they are potentially vunerable to rising ground water.

 

[Indigo Jill]

Maybe some of you need to brush up on Flood versus Homeowner's Insurance.

From the Government website FloodSmart.gov:

Here's how "flood" is defined by the National Flood Insurance Program:
"A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one 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, in plain English, a flood is an excess of water (or mud) on land that's normally dry.
Floods often happen when bodies of water overflow or tides rise due to heavy rainfall or thawing snow. But you don't have to live near water to be at risk of flooding. A flash flood, which can strike anywhere without warning, occurs when a large volume of rain falls within a short time.



If a Hurricane blows your window out and rain gets your carpet wet, that is NOT covered by Flood Insurance. If your roof blows off as a result of Tornado or Hurricane and your house gets soaked, that's NOT covered by Flood Insurance.

Flood Insurance is for inundation due to rising ground water.

Thanks for the info, Uncle Timmy! That is why I love this board - I learn a lot from everyone.

I really did think that my Homeowners Insurance wouldn't cover the damage done in the scenario I provided (if it rains for a week and your home becomes flooded with water). So the source of the flooding waters must come below, not above. Now I know!

 

[Uncle Timmy]

You are welcome Jill.

But just to be clear, if rain falls for several days and causes the ground to saturate and then flood, that IS covered by Flood Insurance, not Homeowners. So if you are located in a place where the ground can soak and collect standing water then I would advise you to get Flood Insurance.