Deprecated: Function eregi_replace() is deprecated in /usr/www/users/asiram/resource/wp-content/plugins/link-indication/link-indication.php on line 232

Deprecated: Function eregi_replace() is deprecated in /usr/www/users/asiram/resource/wp-content/plugins/link-indication/link-indication.php on line 232

If you happen to live along the Gulf of Mexico, or any other part of the country where flooding is a regular occurrence, you know that trying to convince most voluntary insurers (companies like Allstate or State Farm) to provide you with flood insurance for your home can be the rough equivalent of attempting to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in a pair of heels and no rope-frustrating, painful and, in the end, usually an exercise in futility. Insurance companies hate paying out insurance claims, and if you happen to live in one of these areas it’s almost a guarantee that sooner or later you’re going to need to file a homeowners claim. Most companies cut you off at the pass by simply refusing you coverage based on your location.

Fortunately, the government is finally catching on to their game. That’s why FEMA founded the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in the 1960s to protect homeowners living in floodplains. Through the NFIP families who would not otherwise be considered eligible for flood protection could purchase flood insurance coverage to provide them with financial assistance following flooding to rebuild their homes and compensate them for the loss of their contents.

The NFIP also plays an active role in helping to decrease the number of homeowners whose lives are affected by flooding by helping to guide developers away from floodplains and other “high risk” areas and mandating that all new and substantially remodeled buildings be constructed with an eye toward loss mitigation in the event of a flood. The bottom line is that there are many booming industrial areas across the United States that are begging to be developed but are also at a high risk for suffering flood damage. With the help of the NFIP homeowners in these areas can enjoy the natural beauty of living on the coast without having to fear that each storm could be the one that leaves them heartbroken and homeless.

The NFIP does not discriminate when it comes to insuring individuals living in high risk areas, and while participation in the National Flood Insurance Program grew slowly when it was first founded it wasn’t long before government mandates in the form of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 pushed involvement and enrollment sky high. Today, almost every property in a flood hazard zone is required to be covered under a flood insurance policy to minimize the effects of the flood and help homeowners get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

The bottom line is that if you’re living in a potential flood zone it’s vitally important that you make every effort possible to minimize the dangers to yourself, your home and your family, and that protection should take the form of a good flood insurance policy. If you live in a high risk area and have been denied flood coverage in the past, leave Mt. Kilimanjaro behind and contact the NFIP. It may be your best chance to safeguard your financial future.

Anthony M. Peck is the Senior Developer, Software Project Manager, and
Director of Business Development for QuoteScout.com. For more information, please visit
them on the web at QuoteScout.com.

Share This