For most of us, our home is by far our most valuable
possession. But every year, more homes in the U.S. are
damaged by floods than any other natural disaster.
People who live near water are not the only ones who
experience flooding. Floods move, and can spread for
miles. They can have strong currents that, in a few
moments, can sweep away everything that took a lifetime to
accumulate, leaving a thick residue of mud and debris behind.
It's not just high risk areas that are flooded.
Between 20 and 25 percent of flood insurance claims come from
a medium or low flood-risk areas.
The fact is, a flood could happen to you.
Fortunately, you can protect yourself and your future from
the crippling financial losses often caused by flooding
through a program administered by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). Under FEMA’s National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP), Federally backed flood insurance is
available in communities that adopt and enforce regulations to
reduce flood losses. Flood insurance provides coverage
that your homeowners insurance doesn't - coverage for damages
caused by floods.
The good news is that nearly 19,000 communities in the
United States and its territories that are faced with
potential flooding participate in the NFIP, so the chances are
excellent that flood insurance is available to you.
Flood insurance is far better protection than depending on
Federal disaster assistance, which is available only if a
disaster is Federally declared.
If you have a flood insurance policy, you can be reimbursed
for all your covered losses, even if a disaster is not
Federally declared. In contrast, Federal disaster assistance
is often a loan - repayable in full - with interest!
With a flood insurance policy, all you have to pay is one
annual premium. Then, if you suffer losses due to
flooding, you will be reimbursed for your covered losses, and
you'll never have to pay a nickel back.
Flood insurance is affordable. The average flood
insurance premium costs a little over $300 a year for an
average of $100,000 of coverage. However, paying
back a $50,000 disaster home loan, for example, will cost an
average of $300 a month - for an average repayment period of
20 years!
And of course, if you are not insured, and a Federal
disaster is not declared, your home and belongings may be
ruined with no hope for recovery.
Protect yourself, your home, your family, and your
financial future.
Call your insurance company or agent to find out if your
community participates in the NFIP. If it does, ask for
details about how to buy flood insurance. Do it today.
Policies go into effect 30 days after a policy is purchased.
Protect your home and your family today.
For more information about the NFIP and flood insurance,
contact your insurance company or agent, or call the NFIP at
1-888-FLOOD29, TDD# 1-800-427-5593.
