Americans Are Alarmingly Underinsured for Flood Damage
Americans Are Alarmingly Underinsured for Flood Damage
According to new data from the Federal Reserve, nearly three-quarters of expected flood damage to American homes is currently uninsured — and Republicans and those who don’t perceive personal harm from climate change are more likely to lack adequate coverage.
I don't want my tax dollars going to property owners in Florida who refused to insure themselves against flooding because they don't believe global warming is real. Florida is a tax haven. All that money they saved should go either into insurance or rebuilding.
My parents don't have flood insurance, but they live on a hill that's about 150ft above the surrounding fields, and roughly 200-250ft above the closest waterway. If their house floods, then society has effectively collapsed in their state.
My sister and in-laws, however, all live within eyesight of the closest river or stream, and maybe 25-50ft above water level inside valleys. My wife's sister's house has had water get up to about 10ft away from the house, and STILL nobody has flood insurance.
SOME people can get away with it. Most can't and don't even realize it.
To be fair, it's entirely possible that they've been refused insurance. My relatives near water cannot get insured for anything less than a small fortune. Insurance companies know that climate change is making disasters more likely, and they're adapting. Hell, I had my auto insurance literally drop me over wild fires here in California (despite me living in an urban area that will never have one), and that's literally mandatory coverage to drive.
The best insurance is a good deterrent, building a good retaining wall will likely help in protecting the home.
Much like making sure that trees near the home aren't tall enough to land on the home.
Edit: I'm not saying to not get insurance of you have a wall, but having the wall in addition to insurance will make life that much easier.
Nice try, flood insurance salesman.