Atlantic hurricane season is coming up, with South Florida considered to be particularly vulnerable compared to the rest of the state. For those living in areas at high risk of flooding within the region, flood insurance is worth serious consideration — or even mandatory.
According to Colorado State University’s April 9 yearly seasonal forecast, there’s a 74% probability that a named storm will pass within 50 miles of Florida’s coast and a 21% chance that a major hurricane could do the same during the 2026 hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys, has the highest chance of seeing a hurricane come within 50 miles, while Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach are also among the top 10 counties at risk.
Flood insurance is required for any home or business in a high-risk flood area with a federally backed mortgage, according to FEMA. Policies are typically effective 30 days after being purchased.
Who Needs Flood Insurance?
Homes and businesses in “high-risk flood areas with mortgages from government-backed lenders” are all required to have flood insurance, according to FEMA.
“Floods can happen anywhere. Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage,” FEMA notes. “Flood insurance is a separate policy that can cover buildings, the contents in a building, or both, so it is important to protect your most important assets — your home, your business, your possessions.”
Managed by FEMA, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides flood insurance to property owners, renters and businesses, helping them recover faster when floodwaters recede. Few private homeowners’ policies offer flood coverage. Insurance is available to anyone living in a participating NFIP community, of which there are 22,600 nationwide.
There’s usually a 30-day waiting period for an NFIP policy to go into effect — so don’t wait until a storm is in the forecast.
How to Know Whether You Live in a High-Risk Area
To determine whether your home or business is in a high-risk flood area, you can input your address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center website.
You could need flood insurance even if you’re not in a high-risk zone. If you live in an area with “low or moderate flood risk,” you’re still five times more likely to experience a flood than a fire at your home over the next 40 years, according to FEMA.
Discounts for Some Miami-Dade Residents
Miami-Dade County offers a 35% discount on flood insurance rates to residents in unincorporated areas who are in a flood zone and purchase a flood insurance policy. A 35% discount is also available to those outside flood zones, with the exception of Preferred Risk policies.
Reporting by Sarah Perkel, USA TODAY NETWORK.
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