You probably know to be wary of floods if you live in a low place or near a body of water. Riverside homes, lake houses, and ocean-front dwellings have always been at risk from water damage, as well as those in other low-lying areas. As weather patterns change, however, homes are getting flooded that were never before at risk. That’s why it’s important to be prepared – no matter where you live.
Headquartered in New Jersey, Muller Insurance helps homeowners across the country decide if they need flood insurance. Here, we discuss how some recent weather trends are indicating why investing in a flood insurance policy is a smart move.
Hurricanes and Storm Surges
In recent years, extreme storms have become more frequent and extreme. For instance, the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season was more active than usual and starred Dorian, the most severe hurricane to make landfall in 84 years and the fifth most intense ever recorded. This historic storm was followed by still more hurricanes and tropical storms battering the shorelines of America.
According to NASA studies, this isn’t an outlier, it’s a trend. More intense storms are here to stay due to climate change, which is warming the ocean’s surface and making the atmosphere more volatile. This puts coastal communities at an even greater risk of storm flooding.
Increased Precipitation
Global warming leads to more water, not only in the ocean but in the air as well. Warmer air means that water evaporates more quickly and in much greater quantities, eventually coming down as rain. When coupled with the extra water from a spring thaw or hardened earth after a dry spell, extra rainfall can lead to unexpected floods. Plus, many regions of the country are finding that their soil can’t handle much extra water, resulting in problems like heavy runoff and significant property damage.
The Northeast has also been hit by record-changing blizzards and snowstorms, which cause the pileup of snow and ice that eventually melts and overloads the water table. This quantity of both rain and frozen precipitation is expected to continue, with research indicating it will only intensify further in the coming years.
Purchasing Flood Insurance
Homes that sit near bodies of water have always been at risk of flooding. As sea levels rise, however, the risk increases, placing homes previously thought safe in flood zones. Because climate change is unpredictable, it is difficult to tell how your home will be affected in the coming years. Flood insurance can be expensive, but it’s not nearly as expensive as unexpected property damage that wasn’t covered by a general homeowners’ insurance policy.
You may think your homeowners’ insurance covers floods. In reality, most policies do not. Flood insurance often has to be purchased separately from your standard homeowners’ policy. If you’re in a high-risk area for floods, Muller Insurance offers flood policies to homeowners in select states – including New Jersey. To find out more about anticipating floods and your need for flood insurance, contact us at 201-659-2403.
