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Homeowners - Be Flood Aware
Areas Outside of High-Risk - Not Safe Either
Truth is, you can live miles away from water and still be a victim of flooding. In fact, more than 1 in 5 NFIP flood claims occur outside of mapped high-risk areas. It doesn't take much to damage your property. Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause tens of thousands of dollars in image. Fortunately, flood insurance is available to almost everyone in a NFIP participating community.
Defining Flooding
The NFIP defines a flood as a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or two or more properties, one of which is yours. Flooding can occur anywhere at any time of the year. Whether they result from flash floods, mudflows, snow melt, or heavy rains, floods can devastate communities.
Homeowners Insurance and Assistance
Your homeowner's insurance covers many hazards. Flooding typically is not one of them. Also, many people believe federal disaster assistance will cover them. Not always! The President must first declare a flood a federal disaster; any assistance you receive is usually a loan that has to be repaid with interest.
Typically, there's a 30-day waiting period from the date of purchase before your policy goes into effect. If your lender requires flood insurance when making, increasing, extending, or renewing a loan on a building in a high-risk area, there is no waiting period. There is a 1 day waiting period when a revised flood map is issued.
Costs of Premiums
The cost of your premium is determined by your level of risk, how much coverage you choose, your deductible, and the age, elevation, and type of building. The average premium for a residential flood insurance policy is less than $2 a day. If you live in a single-family dwelling outside of a mapped high-risk area, your premiums could be even lower.
The NFIP Preferred Risk Policy (PRP) is available for residential and commercial properties located outside of mapped high-risk areas, and premiums start at less than $130 a year. Contents-only PRPs are also available for renters living outside mapped high-risk areas, and premiums are as little as $39 a year. Ask your agent if you qualify for a Preferred Risk Policy.
Insurance Agents and Companies
For more information about flood insurance, visit FloodSmart.gov or talk to your insurance agent. If your insurance agent doesn't write flood policies, you can contact one of the many insurance companies and agents who write policies under a special arrangement with the NFIP. For a list of agents in your area, call 888-724-6924 and or visit FloodSmart.gov.
Be flood smart because you never know when a flood will strike. Everyone's at risk. Don't take a chance! Take a moment to call your insurance agent or insurance company before it's too late.
A flood is defined as any high flow, overflow, or inundation of water that causes or threatens damage. Flooding can occur with prolonged rainfall over several days, intense rainfall over a short period of time, or when water from an existing source moves too quickly (i.e., snowmelt, dam break, etc.). Understanding the different flood hazards and knowing the actions to take before, during, and afterward can help you protect your life, the lives of your loved ones, and your property.
History / Type of New Hampshire Floods
More information about the types of flooding that is typical in New Hampshire and the significant floods that have occurred in New Hampshire can be found on the National Weather Service website.
You can also use our GIS mapping service to help assess a property's flood risk. Just enter an address, toggle the FEMA Flood Zone on, and search to view the flood hazard areas for that property. This link takes you to an overlay showing FEMA 100 and 500-year Flood Zones for Lebanon.