Flood insurance can save Texas homeowners and renters thousands of dollars in repairs. It also can provide peace of mind considering that flooding is the most frequent natural disaster in the United States.

Flood Insurance in Texas:

• Flooding comes from a variety of sources in Texas, such as rainstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes.
• Last year, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) paid out more than

$58.5 million in claims for Texans. So far this year, the agency has paid out more than quadruple that amount – exceeding $277.6 million, as of Aug. 19.

• Nearly 600,000 Texas households had flood insurance as of May 31, according to the NFIP. While that number may seem large, it is a small percentage of the 8.9 million total Texas households.

Costs Add up Quickly:

• Just three inches of floodwater in a home will require replacing drywall, baseboards, carpet, furniture and other necessary repairs that can cost $22,500 in a 2,000-square foot house.
• The deeper the floodwater, the higher the repair costs – 12 inches of water in a 2,000-square foot house can cost $50,000 or more.

Common Misconceptions:

• Understanding the value of flood insurance is important, yet many people remain uninsured, in part due to common misconceptions.
• Many policyholders believe their insurance covers all hazards and flood insurance isn’t needed. However, standard homeowner policies do not cover flooding.
• A federal disaster declaration is not necessary to make a claim on an NFIP flood insurance policy.
• Homes located outside flood-prone areas need flood insurance, too. Nationally, 25 percent of the total structures that flood each year belong to policyholders whose properties are not in high-risk areas.

Obtaining Flood Insurance:

• There is normally a 30-day waiting period when purchasing a new policy. Flood insurance is sold through private insurance companies and agents and is backed by the federal government.

• Flood insurance is available to homeowners, business owners and renters in communities that participate in the NFIP and enforce their local flood plain management ordinances. To determine if a community participates in NFIP, go online to www.floodsmart.gov
• Homeowners in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) must buy flood insurance if they have a mortgage from a federally regulated lender.
• An interactive guide to determine flood risk is available online at www.floodsmart.gov. This site also provides additional information on the NFIP and a list of insurance agents in a homeowner’s area who sell NFIP flood coverage.

Costs and Coverage:

• Flood insurance premiums average about $700 per year for homeowners.
• Homeowners can insure their homes for up to $250,000 and contents for up to $100,000.
• A number of factors determine rates for renters. Renters can cover their belongings in amounts up to $100,000.
• Nonresidential property owners can insure a building and its contents for up to $500,000 each. 

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.