Floods are the most common and costly natural disasters in the United States. As weather patterns change, all areas are susceptible to flooding. When flooding happens, the damage is not covered by most homeowners' insurance policies.
Many Kentucky residents may believe they don't need to buy flood insurance because they don’t live in a high-risk flood zone. However, people outside of high-risk areas file more than one-fourth of the claims received by FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program. One-third of federal flood disaster assistance is paid to residents of non-high-risk locations. Even if you live in an area that is not flood-prone, it’s advisable to have flood insurance. Anyone can be financially vulnerable to floods.
In early February 2022, Winter Storm Landon brought increased potential for flooding to parts of the Commonwealth already dealing with the effects of the rain, sleet and snow that followed the Dec. 10-11 tornadoes.
FEMA urges homeowners, renters and business owners to protect their homes from devastating financial loss from flooding before the next flood occurs. A flood insurance policy can cover both your residence and its contents. Having this coverage helps survivors recover faster when floodwaters recede. Flood insurance coverage applies to all flooding situations, not just those named in federal disaster declarations.
- You can purchase flood insurance coverage at any time. However, there is a 30-day waiting period after you’ve paid the premium before the policy becomes effective. So don't wait to obtain a policy.
- If you own a home within a designated special flood hazard area, and you receive federal disaster assistance for your flood-damaged home or personal property, you must purchase and maintain flood insurance coverage on the property for the life of the building. If you sell your home after receiving federal disaster assistance, the new owner is required to maintain flood insurance coverage. In most cases, an existing flood insurance policy transfers to the new owner with no lapse in coverage.
- If you are a renter and receive federal disaster assistance for flood-damaged personal property, you must maintain flood insurance coverage for as long as you live at the flood-damaged rental property. The flood insurance requirement ends if you move from that property. The policy does not transfer to a new renter of that property.
- FEMA provides group flood insurance policies to individuals who do not have flood insurance and have received assistance from FEMA after a presidentially declared disaster. For information on the group insurance policies, visit youtube.com/watch?v=_TtlQ7zjC9g.
For more information about the National Flood Insurance Program, visit fema.gov/flood-insurance or call 877-336-2627.
For information on Kentucky’s recovery from the tornadoes, visit fema.gov/disaster/4630. Follow FEMA on Twitter at FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.