Flood Insurance for Hurricane Season in California

Flood Insurance for Hurricane Season

In Jan 2023, California experienced heavy flooding that displaced 100,000 residents and caused at least two dozen fatalities. Experts predict these extreme weather events will happen more frequently due to climate change.

With that in mind, homeowners in California should prepare for the worst, including hurricanes. A typical hurricane comprises strong winds and heavy rainfall that bring inland flooding and destructive tornadoes.        

Although hurricanes are rare, they can bring significant damage to your home. Consider flood insurance coverage to protect your property in weather eventualities.

Here’s what you need to know about insurance coverage during hurricane season.

A Partly 2% Of California Homeowners Have Flood Insurance.

Standard homeowners insurance does not have flood insurance coverage, a little-known fact among homeowners who assume they’re covered.

Interestingly, approximately 2% (230,000 homes and buildings) have a dedicated flood insurance policy, provided mainly by the National Flood Insurance Program.

As a result, most homeowners are exposed to loss if a hurricane strikes. It’s also the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) to classify locations based on their flooding risk. 

Even so, FEMA’s last report dates back to the ’80s and ’90s and doesn’t reflect the worsening effects of climate change. Despite the obvious flood threat, many homeowners lack adequate insurance protection.

3 Reasons to Consider Flood Insurance for Hurricane Season

1. Most Natural Disasters Bring Floods

Although flooding can be classified as a natural disaster, it may also occur due to other calamities. The common disasters that bring floods include hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, and storms.

For instance, the strong winds of a hurricane have varying degrees of destructive impacts, including heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides. Therefore, with the rise of natural disasters due to climate change, you should consider protecting your home with flood insurance.

2. Protects You From Financial Losses

Flood insurance is available to homeowners throughout the United States, irrespective of your flooding risk status. More importantly,  a homeowner with flood insurance is advantaged when flooding occurs.

Flood coverage can help them recover from the damage quickly. When a loss occurs, an insurer provides funds to repair the flood-damaged property.

If you live near the ocean or a flood-prone area, owning flood insurance will save you from much unforeseen trouble.

As a result, you’ll eliminate the need to take debt, draw your savings, or rely on delayed government assistance programs.

3. A Standard Home Insurance Doesn’t Cover Flooding From Natural Disasters

Homeowners insurance offers limited coverage to internal flooding sources, e.g., a pipe burst. In addition, it doesn’t cover homeowners from flooding resulting from natural disasters like hurricanes or storms.

It would help if you acquired dedicated flood insurance to cut potential losses in case of a hurricane.

Prepare for the Worst: Get Hurricane Insurance Before the Next Storm Hits

A hurricane can result in extensive property damage. If your home is submerged in the resulting flood water, expect extensive damage to the drywall, furniture, electronics, floor, and electrical network.

Therefore, you need a solid insurance plan to absorb the flooding-related loss.

At Panorama Insurance Agency, we offer our customers a tailored insurance plan by carefully scrutinizing all available options in the market near Northridge California. Contact us online or call us at 818-781-6630. for more information.