Why insurance and mitigation matter for Floridians
Opinion Piece | Orlando Sentinel
Authored by IEM President & CEO, Bryan Koon
Article Highlights:
- Recent events in South Florida show that hurricane-force winds are not necessary to cause significant damage. Flooding, tornadoes, and tropical storms can all wreak havoc on your property, leading to expensive and lengthy repairs.
- 90% of all U.S. disasters involve flooding.
- Only 27 percent of American homeowners have flood insurance, despite it being the most common and costly disaster.
- Personal preparedness can be daunting, particularly for the more than 3.5 million low-to-moderate-income households across the state.
- Luckily, there are options, like reduced insurance rates through the National Flood Insurance Program for those who qualify, and flexible payment plans offered by some insurers to make premiums more manageable.
- We need quicker assistance to help affected disaster survivors return to safe, habitable homes more quickly. But federal disaster assistance should be a safety net, not the primary recovery source. Insured communities recover faster, reducing long-term economic impacts.
- As you improve and prepare your home for this hurricane season, it is important to consider what mitigation measures you can implement to make your home more resilient.
Read the full article on the Orlando Sentinel at the link below.
