(Washington D.C., Thursday, May 25, 2023)  – Flooding is the most expensive natural disaster in the United States, and rivers cause hundreds of floods every year. The transition from the winter season to spring can result in increased rainfall and melting snow which can cause rivers and other bodies of water to rise, overflow and spill out onto nearby flat, dry land—and that causes flooding.

With the spring flooding season in full force, FEMA is urging residents to protect their families, homes and financial future by purchasing flood insurance. Residents, particularly those who live in inland communities, can have a greater flood risk the closer they are to a river or stream.

So while residents may not live in an area known for flooding, 99% of all counties have experienced a flooding event since 1996. In fact, over 40% of the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) flood insurance claims come from outside the high-risk flood zones.

Having a flood insurance policy is the best way for residents to ensure their homes are safe from significant damage during a flooding event, so they can recover quickly. Just one inch of water can cause roughly $25,000 dollars in damage to a home, and most homeowners and renters insurance does not cover flood damage.

Residents can speak with an insurance agent or company today to find out they can purchase flood insurance to protect the lives they’ve built.

David Maurstad, senior executive of the NFIP, explains how residents can protect their homes now.

SOUNDBITE #1:

NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO CONSIDER PURCHASING FLOOD INSURANCE TO PROTECT YOUR HOME AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS FROM RIVERINE FLOODING. WHEN EXCESS RAINFALL AND SNOWMELT CAUSE RIVERS TO OVERFLOW, FLOODING CAN HARM YOUR PROPERTY AND ITS CONTENTS. JUST ONE INCH OF WATER IN YOUR HOME CAN CAUSE ROUGHLY TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. PROTECT THE LIFE YOU’VE BUILT WITH FLOOD INSURANCE.

SOUNDBITE #2:

THIS SPRING, COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE AT RISK FOR RIVERINE FLOODING. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO AN INSURANCE AGENT SOONER THAN LATER ABOUT PURCHASING A FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY BECAUSE MOST POLICIES TAKE 30 DAYS TO GO INTO EFFECT. VISIT FLOOD-SMART-DOT-GOV-SLASH-RIVERS TO LEARN MORE.

For more information, visit floodsmart.gov/rivers.