WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Flooding in Florida is not limited to coastal areas.
Many homeowners learn the hard way that even low-risk areas can become risky ventures if they do not purchase flood insurance.
“We are not in a flood zone. We do not have flood insurance and never thought we would need flood insurance. We are in Zone X,” said Kelsey Blanton, whose Sarasota home was flooded by heavy rains from Hurricane Debby.
WATCH BELOW: Florida residents should get flood insurance even if they’re not at risk, experts say
Florida residents should get flood insurance even if they are not at risk, experts say
“My insurance agent double-checked for me. We are still in Flood Zone X,” said resident Kim Gregory. “We are not in a flood zone. There is no need for flood insurance.”
Zone X is a FEMA designation that indicates the property has an annual probability of flooding of less than 0.2%.
Without flood insurance, these homeowners will be left with the damage caused by the estimated 33 centimeters of rain.
WPTV recently asked FEMA about flood maps, zones and the need for flood insurance.
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What you should know before filing an insurance claim after Hurricane Debby
“I really want to make people aware of the risk. I think people should think about buying flood insurance,” said Tony Hake, director of customer service at FEMA.
Hake said the lines on the FEMA map served as a guide and flooding could occur anywhere.
“One-third of the damage or compensation payments typically occur in areas outside the special flood hazard zone,” said Hake.
WPTV found that in Florida, only about 12% of properties are covered by flood insurance.
For a typical home, insurance amounts average less than $1,000 per year, although much depends on whether the property is located in a high-risk flood area.
In these high-risk areas, many mortgage lenders require flood insurance. However, in low-risk areas, the decision is up to the homeowner.
“Almost all of my neighbors don’t have flood insurance,” Gregory said. “This is not a flooded area. This should never have happened.”
