California residents are being encouraged to purchase flood insurance

flood insurance policies

FEMA urges homeowners to obtain flood protection ahead of El Nino

Homeowners in California are being urged by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to purchase flood insurance ahead of the arrival of the El Nino storm system this winter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that El Nino will be particularly powerful this year and may strike the Bay Area in as little as two weeks from now. Notably, the majority of homeowners in the state do not have flood insurance coverage, largely due to a lack of awareness.

Powerful storms caused by El Nino may cause significant damage in California

FEMA officials believe that preparation is key to ensure that homeowners are not faced with major losses when El Nino strikes. Powerful storms could cause widespread flooding, which could have major consequences for homeowners and businesses operating in the state. FEMA is encouraging consumers to review their homeowners insurance policies so they know whether or not they have flood protection. The major issue is that conventional homeowners insurance policies do not offer this sort of protection.

Conventional homeowners insurance policies do not offer flood protection

flood insurance policiesTypically, the only place consumers can find flood protection is through the National Flood Insurance Program, which is managed by FEMA. The program exists as a safety net for consumers and businesses, which are exposed to significant risks when it comes to flooding disasters. FEMA notes that homeowners should purchase flood protection as soon as possible, as these policies do not take effect until 30 days after they have been purchased.

Californians may be exposed to serious risks if they do not have flood insurance

Many California homeowners do not have flood insurance protection, largely because they think their homeowners insurance policies offer this sort of protection. Others see relatively little need for this kind of insurance coverage, because floods rarely strike California communities, causing any notable damage. Floods have caused significant losses in the past, but homeowners still show resistance to the idea of acquiring flood insurance protection. Recent floods in other parts of the country have highlighted the damage that these natural disasters can cause.

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