Three Florida counties are among the most vulnerable in the nation for hurricanes and related flooding – Monroe, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach. Residents in those counties are well aware of the risk, and they are maintaining important flood insurance coverage. But that is not happening in many other parts of the state.
While the percentage of people in Florida with flood insurance is much higher than in other states (for the obvious reason that we have more coastline), there are 70,000 fewer flood insurance policies in force today statewide than there were three years ago. Blame the economy and the volume of foreclosures – or the absence of severe weather to remind people of the power of storm surge. Monroe and Miami-Dade counties are bucking that trend to drop flood coverage with more flood policies in place now than in 2007. Palm Beach County had a slight decline. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has a report on flood policies in force by county. Florida accounts for about 40 percent of all the policies in the NFIP, and yet studies have shown that only about half of the people living in special flood-hazard areas have purchased a flood policy. There are recent developments with flood insurance worth knowing.   Â
Hurricane season is rainy season, and some inland rivers are nearing flood stage. The U.S. Geological Survey has a Water Watch map to show which parts of the state are currently vulnerable to flooding. Â Since the majority of natural disasters involve flooding, and standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage, flood insurance provides important protection.
Know your flood risk. Visit www.FloodSmart.gov and learn How the NFIP Works.
