Florida may be known as the "Sunshine State", but it has the highest precipitation of any state. Afternoon thunderstorms are common all over the state as Florida is simply a peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean. The greatest threat for Florida flooding are tropical storms and hurricanes, even outside of hurricane season. Florida floods are one of the hazards of living in a mostly flat, sea-level state with rain on a daily basis. Hurricanes are a common occurrence in Florida every year, producing anticipated Florida flooding risk.
Florida floods are the most destructive events that can happen to Florida residents, ruining walls, wiring, floors, and all personal belongings. If your home is in a high-risk area on the Florida flood zone map, make sure you have flood insurance added to your homeowners insurance. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover damage caused by Florida floods. Florida homeowners that live along the coast should be particularly concerned about flood insurance. Regular flood insurance covers structures with a limit of $250,000, so excess flood insurance should be purchased if your home is valued over $250,000.
The most severe threat to Florida homeowners is a hurricane. Hurricanes can cause alarming destruction with strong winds, storm surge, driving rains, and affect all residents of Florida. Standard homeowners insurance covers wind damage and rain entering your home that was damaged by the wind. However, Florida homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance and excess flood insurance are purchased separately from your standard homeowners or farming crop insurance policy. We recommend that you review your Florida hurricane insurance protection to make sure you have adequate coverage.
Florida has more than 1,000 miles of coastline, and Florida floods affect the entire state, since any part of Florida is not far from water. Florida flooding affects coastline residents significantly; however, the entire state is affected by the risk for wind damage. Even if you live in central Florida, extreme winds from hurricanes and tornadoes are always a threat.
It is important to remember that flood insurance and excess flood insurance are sold separately from your homeowners insurance. Florida floods insurance covers damage from rising waters such as storm surge, waves, and bodies of water that overflow such as rivers, creeks, and lakes. The runoff from this Florida flooding can also damage renters residences such as condos and mobile homes; they also require separate flood insurance. Florida residences damaged by a flood rely on the flood insurance policy for repairs, debris removal, etc.
Florida flood mitigation always pays off. Mitigation includes any act of precaution that prevents an emergency, reduces the chances of a emergency, or that which lessens the damaging affects of unavoidable emergencies. Constructing water barriers such as levees and purchasing flood insurance can significantly reduce structural damage to your home and financial loss from Florida floods.