(Washington D.C., Tuesday, August 20, 2019) – This month marks the one-year anniversary of the 2018 Wisconsin flood which caused devastating damage to homes and businesses. It can happen again this year. Many counties saw more than a foot of rain, and southwest Wisconsin experienced record flooding.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is urging property owners and renters to purchase flood insurance to protect their homes and their savings. Whether it’s a major flood or just an inch of water, flood insurance helps cover the cost of flood damage. An inch of water is enough to cause more than $25,000 in damages.

With flood insurance you can and will get back to living your life after flood damage. Insured residents are able to recover faster and more fully from a flood than their uninsured neighbors. Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to go into effect. 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. Also, most homeowners and renter’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage, and flood insurance policies don’t automatically renew.

Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to go into effect. 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 renter’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage, and flood insurance policies don’t automatically renew.  Visit FloodSmart.gov or call 800-427-2419 to learn more about flood risk and to find an agent in your area.