High-Risk Areas in Iowa and Nebraska Lack Flood Insurance

Huge flooding can indeed wash away one’s possessions and even leave a lot of families homeless. But, instead of being terrified of the danger that this disaster poses, experts advise property owners to get protection through flood insurance. 

Before the onset of the flood season, many citizens of these two states are already getting their hands on flood insurance to protect their homes and families. Nebraska has a total of 9,237 policies whereas Iowa is up to 13,088. Despite these somewhat impressive numbers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that there’s still a lot of high-risk, unprotected properties. As of October 2019, there were only 12% insured properties in Iowa and 16% in Nebraska. 

These reports left flood experts worried especially after the National Weather Service reported that this year’s flooding would be worse than normal. Also, policies commonly require a 30-day waiting period before they become active. So, the longer people wait to get insurance, the higher the chance of being unprotected when the flood season begins. 

The regional director for FEMA, Paul Taylor, has put it simply — flood insurance is the best defense that homes and businesses can get. 

Meanwhile, Jeff Brewer, VP for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, cited several reasons as to why people aren’t getting insured despite the obvious risk. He said it generally boils down to the cost. They would rather save money and hope that they won’t have a loss; others simply underestimate the danger that flooding presents. Additionally, the cost of insurance may vary based on the level of risk — hence why premiums could range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per year.