2% of residents in Hurricane Helene’s hardest-hit counties had flood insurance

Karah Rucker

ADDING TO THE DEVASTATION OUT OF HURRICANE HELENE –

THERE IS AN ALARMING LACK OF FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE IN COUNTIES HARDEST HIT BY THE STORM.

WHILE COASTAL COUNTIES GENERALLY HAVE BETTER COVERAGE, INLAND AREAS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERINSURED.

ONLY ABOUT 2% OF RESIDENCES IN THE MOST AFFECTED COUNTIES HAD FLOOD INSURANCE. IN NORTH CAROLINA, THAT FIGURE DROPS TO JUST 0.7%, WHILE SOUTH CAROLINA SEES AN EVEN LOWER COVERAGE RATE AT 0.3%.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO AN NBC NEWS ANALYSIS USING DATA FROM THE “CENSUS BUREAU”, “POWEROUTAGE.US” AND “NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM POLICY DATA.”

IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES, INCLUDING FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, AND VIRGINIA, ONLY ABOUT 5% OF RESIDENCES ARE COVERED BY FLOOD INSURANCE, PRIMARILY ALONG COASTAL AREAS. MANY HOMEOWNERS REMAIN UNAWARE THAT STANDARD HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER FLOOD DAMAGE, LEAVING THEM VULNERABLE WHEN DISASTER STRIKES.

AND DISASTER – STRUCK HARD ONE WEEK AGO.

TAKE THESE BEFORE AND AFTER SATELLITE IMAGES SHARED BY “NEAR-MAP.”

SHOWING HOMES STANDING –

AND THEN DISAPPEARING –

WIPED OFF THE MAP –

A FLOW OF FLOODWATERS – IN ITS PLACE.

FEMA DOES OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT FLOOD INSURANCE, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS AID IS USUALLY JUST A FRACTION OF THE AVERAGE PAYOUT FOR THOSE WITH FLOOD INSURANCE POLICIES.