June 27, 2024
DR-4783-WV FS 008
FEMA News Desk: 215-931-5597
FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov
Flood Insurance Protects You All Year Long
Anywhere it rains, it can flood. With flood insurance, you’ll be protected in the event of flood damage, whether it’s an inch or a foot of water.
The Importance of Flood Insurance
Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States. In the past five years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods. Even just one inch of water can cause $25,000 of damage to your home.
- Flood damage is rarely covered under your homeowners or renters insurance policy.
- Review your insurance coverage to make sure you are protected for all hazards, including flooding, wind, and other related damages.
- Learn more about flood risk and insurance at www.floodsmart.gov.
- If you live in a high-risk area and have a federally backed mortgage, your mortgage lender requires you to have flood insurance.
What’s covered?
- There are many types of coverage plans, and it is important to pick the one that is right for your needs.
- Coverage plans may include:
- Your home’s structure and utilities, including furnaces, electric and plumbing systems, and even kitchen appliances.
- The contents of your home, including coverage for personal belongings, clothing, and valuable items like artwork.
- There are also plans available for renters and businesses.
Be Flood Smart—Purchase or Renew a Flood Insurance Policy Today
With flood insurance from the NFIP, you’re covered. Flood insurance can cover up to:
- $250,000 for your residential property
- $100,000 for your personal belongings*
- $500,000 for your commercial property
- $500,000 for your commercial property contents
*Available to homeowners and renters
Of more than 3,000 counties in the United States, 99% experienced a flood event from 1996 to 2022. Flood insurance can protect your home from damage during a flooding event, so you can recover faster.
Even if you don’t live near water, your home can still be at risk of flooding from changing conditions such as construction projects, surface erosion or natural events. An average of 40% of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims come from outside high-risk flood areas.
You can buy or renew a flood insurance policy by calling your insurance company or a local independent agent who can write flood insurance directly with the NFIP, administered by FEMA.
If you don’t have a provider, visit floodsmart.gov/flood-insurance-provider to see a list of agents offering flood insurance in West Virginia.
Visit FloodSmart.govor call the NFIP at 877-336-2627 for more information.
For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit emd.wv.gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4783, and www.facebook.com/FEMA.
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
Follow us on X at x.com/FEMAregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages).
Alice J. Roden started working for Trending Insurance News at the end of 2021. Alice grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. A writer with a vast insurance industry background Alice has help with several of the biggest insurance companies. Before joining Trending Insurance News, Alice briefly worked as a freelance journalist for several radio stations. She covers home, renters and other property insurance stories.