Great Lakes Insurance Services Group
Whether you are a homeowner, renter, or property owner, considering flood insurance is a valuable option as we head into 2025. If you reside in an area designated as Zone X, the recent unpredictable weather patterns show that obtaining a flood insurance policy could be wise.
Zone X is a flood zone classification used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to indicate areas that are moderate to low risk for flooding. To help identify what zone you are in, FEMA has a Flood Insurance Rate Map that shows flood risks across the country. It is important to note that standard homeowner’s policies do not cover flood damage, meaning flood insurance is a separate policy that must be purchased to protect your home and belongings from flood related damage.
While flood insurance is not usually required by mortgages for properties in Zone X areas, it is still available and recommended as flood risks can exist even outside of high-risk zones, such as Zone A or Zone Z. With sea levels continuing to rise, severe weather is not the only cause of flooding. Therefore, high tide flooding is becoming increasingly common due to the sea level rise. High tide flooding occurs when the tides reach 1-2 feet above daily average high tide (dependent on location).
In 2023, 34 locations in U.S. coastal communities broke their records for high-tide flood days, according to National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA). NOAA also mentioned in a recent article based on scientific predictions, “Due to long-term sea level rise, the U.S. now experiences an additional five median flood days per year compared to 2000 — a roughly 200% increase. By 2050, the nation is expected to experience an average of 45 to 85 high-tide flooding days per year.”
In September 2024, Asheville, NC experienced unexpectedly damaging and devastating floods due to the powerful and heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Helene. This event has raised awareness about the importance of flood insurance. According to the National Weather Service, parts of Western Carolina received more than 30 inches of rain – Asheville, NC, having 13.98 inches of that total number from Sept. 25-27. The area also saw wind gusts of 46 mph while other Western Carolina areas saw wind gusts as high as 106 mph. Please view the images below for reference.
Get Flood Insurance with Us Today
Flood Insurance is a wise investment for those in high or low risk areas, especially for anyone near rivers, coasts, or low-lying areas. Great Lakes Insurance has the expertise in flood insurance to give you peace of mind before, during, and after a flood happens as our saying is: Our Specialty. Your Peace of Mind. For questions and concerns, please contact one of our offices to see how we can provide you with the best possible coverage at the lowest possible price.
Great resources to follow:
- Flood Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA)
- National Weather Service (NWS)
- NASA Earth Observatory
Image Courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory
Images Courtesy of National Weather Service
