U.S. Homeowners Hoping to Rebuild or Raise Homes Following Record-Setting Floods
Though 2017 saw some of the most damaging hurricanes in history, 2018 was no joke, as well. The total destruction caused by 2018 storms wasn’t as bad, thankfully, but the flooding problems and water-related issues were, and still are, horrible.
According to USA Today, Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael brought with them record-setting flooding and winds, costing billions in total losses. Since 2000, U.S. flood-related damage totals more than $750 billion.
The average cost of a home water damage insurance claim is approximately $6,965. Across the country, in storm-stricken areas, homes, buildings, and entire communities were ravaged with horrific floods. Thankfully, there are ways for property owners to at least tend to some of that destruction without breaking the bank.
According to the New Jersey Herald, the taxpayer-subsidized National Flood Insurance Program is helping homeowners rebuild their home after significant flooding damage has occurred.
The National Flood Insurance Program was already $20 billion in the red before the start of the 2018 hurricane season — even after U.S. Congress wrote off an additional $16 billion last year. But the federal coverage is available once again to business owners, renters, and homeowners if their communities implement flood-plain management programs like building elevation and preventative construction.
Some critics of the rebuilding program believe it’s a waste of time, money, and resources since the flooding situation will only worsen over time as global climate change generates more extreme weather and oven levels continue to rise.
Homes that have suffered major and repetitive losses are “the canary in the coal mine for the millions of properties in the U.S. that are going to be in the exact same situation in future decades,” said Rob Moore, water and climate director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to provide property owners financial assistance to either rebuild their properties or raise them to higher ground to prevent flooding. It’s important to note if a home was completely destroyed and a full rebuild is necessary, new roofs are supposed to be built to withstand snow and rain loads of at least 15 to 30 pounds per square feet.
“Many people that find themselves in a situation of living in a repeatedly flooded house would like nothing more than to never file another flood insurance damage claim ever again,” added Moore. “But the only assistance that’s readily available to them after a flood is to rebuild if they have flood insurance. So they’re kind of trapped.”
If Congress wishes to overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides federally backed coverage for poetry owners in more than 22,000 communities, they need to do so prior to the November 30th reauthorization deadline.
Additionally, there could be even more flooding issues ruining properties across the country late in the season. According to NorthJersey.com, the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch along the East Coast.
