(Washington D.C., Tuesday, June 11, 2019) – This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts 4-8 hurricanes including 2-4 major ones (Cat. 3 or higher) as part of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. It only takes one hurricane to cause great destruction. As we saw during last year’s hurricane season, record amount of flooding caused devastating damage to homes and businesses.

FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program are urging property owners and renters to take steps now to protect their homes and their savings before a major storm hits. Steps include having an evacuation plan, an emergency kit with food, medicine and water to last for 72 hours, and buying or renewing their flood insurance policy.

Having flood insurance is one of the most important steps property owners and renters can take to protect the life they’ve built. Insured residents recover faster from a flood than their uninsured neighbors. In 2017, the average flood insurance claim payment in the U.S. was more than $90,000.

Hurricane season lasts from June 1 through November 30. It is likely that a series of hurricanes and severe storms will hit the Gulf, Southeast and Northeast coasts, causing flood damage. In fact, it doesn’t have to be a devastating flood to be expensive, just an inch of water in an average-size home can cause more than $25,000 in damage. Last year’s hurricane season caused nearly $50 billion in damage and many homes in the path of these storms were not protected with flood insurance.

David Maurstad, Chief Executive of FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, is available to help answer questions about flood insurance, dispel misconceptions and give listeners advice on how to prepare for the hurricane season.

• Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to go into effect;

• With hurricane season here, don’t wait until it’s too late: secure flood insurance now;
• While the process of recovery might seem daunting, insured residents are able to recover faster and more fully from a flood than their uninsured neighbors;
• If you wait to purchase a policy until after a flood event begins, your property won’t be protected from the damage caused by that flood event; and
• Most homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover flood damage, and flood insurance policies don’t automatically renew.