Flood Facts

• Flooding can occur anytime and anywhere, it has occurred within all 50 states.
• Everyone lives in a floodzone.
• Flood risks change over time.
• If you live in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or high-risk area and have a Federally backed mortgage, your mortgage lender requires you to have flood insurance.
• Floods are the most common and costly natural hazard in the nation.
• Around 25% of flood insurance claims occur in moderate-to-low risk areas.
• A car an easily be carried away by just two feet of floodwater.
• Nearly half of all people killed in floods are those who try driving through flooded areas.
• Just because it hasn't flooded in the past doesn't mean it won't in the future.
• From 1978 through 2011 the NFIP paid over 1.4 million claims, totaling over $38 billion in flood losses on properties with flood insurance.
• In Special Flood Hazard Areas, there is a 1-in-4 chance your home will flood over the life of a 30-year mortgage.
• Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage
• Homeowners insurance very rarely covers flood damage.
• Flood insurance can be purchased through most insurance agents.
• More than 5.5 million people currently hold flood insurance policies in more than 21,800 communities across the US.
• Florida residents and businesses hold approximately 37% of all flood insurance policies in the nation.
• Leon County has many programs to mitigate flood risks and assist residents before, during, and after flood events