More on hurricane Helene

[SwampSurvivor]

When a hurricane flooded a town near where I used to live over 20 years ago, numerous homes were lost. Their owners said they had been told they "didn't need" flood insurance or the insurance "wasn't available to them".

With my last house, I inquired about getting flood insurance becuase of it's proximity to a lake. I was quoted more than my mortgage for flood insurance because I wasn't in a designated flood zone.

Meanwhile, the lot across the street and the neighbor next to me were in flood zones and they were 3' higher than me.

I lost a bunch of stuff in the garage when my lot flooded 8/2021. Thankfully it didn't get into the house, but I don't care to go through that again.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

One person being interviewed said flood insurance was just completely unaffordable. $500 a month was the quote they said they were given.

 

[nomas]

One person being interviewed said flood insurance was just completely unaffordable. $500 a month was the quote they said they were given.

I carry the max and mine is $935 a year .

 

[SC Maintenance]

One person being interviewed said flood insurance was just completely unaffordable. $500 a month was the quote they said they were given.

Must have been in a high risk area or the location has flooded previosly.

The Max residential FEMA policy is only $250K for structure and $100K for contents. Thats the max you can get or you need to go private insurance. I am in zone X (0.2% flood chance per year, per the flood maps) and its $714 a year. It would cover less than half if total loss. I should go private insurance, its not much more, but then your at their mercy or maybe they go under and don't pay at all.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I am shocked at the lack of media attention and I understand fully what you are saying. The death toll will be in the hundreds, never mind the destruction.

We have some things in common. Our community on the NC side of the border is technically built on a swamp. Looking out my back patio, we too have a roughly 12 foot deep and wide creek that we chose as a buffer. Most times barely a trickle of water however during a storm of 5 to 8 inches it can fill up with 5 feet or so of water as the lakes drain into this long and winding creek I would not want to be near or anywhere near the tail end of it which is a food zone area.
That buffer though, is what attracted us to pick this lot over a small lake lot. Peaceful and private (for a community anyway)

All over the news here.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Deleted.

 

[Owen Lucas]

https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/shelter-services-program/fy24-awards

"For Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will provide $640.9 million of available funds to enable non-federal entities to off-set allowable costs incurred for services associated with noncitizen migrant arrivals in their communities.

The funding will be distributed through two opportunities, $300 million through SSP – Allocated (SSP-A) and $340.9 million through SSP – Competitive (SSP-C)."

This does not include money from DHS flying migrants in along with state and other federal agencies paying for housing, phones, medical care, food etc. Also kind of odd a lot of these migrants are being sent into swing states and there is a massive push to have them naturalized and ready to vote asap.

 

[JeffKeryk]

https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/shelter-services-program/fy24-awards

"For Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will provide $640.9 million of available funds to enable non-federal entities to off-set allowable costs incurred for services associated with noncitizen migrant arrivals in their communities.

The funding will be distributed through two opportunities, $300 million through SSP – Allocated (SSP-A) and $340.9 million through SSP – Competitive (SSP-C)."

This does not include money from DHS flying migrants in along with state and other federal agencies paying for housing, phones, medical care, food etc. Also kind of odd a lot of these migrants are being sent into swing states and there is a massive push to have them naturalized and ready to vote asap.

Check your facts; SSP is a separate program.

Congress appropriated that money, just as it did the disaster fund. There’s no evidence that any money from the disaster fund was used to help migrants.

Secretary Mayorkas said, "FEMA has the necessary resources to meet the immediate needs associated with Hurricane Helene and other disasters. The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA’s disaster-related authorities or funding streams."

I would ask that we stay out of politics.

 

[Owen Lucas]

he Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA’s disaster-related authorities or funding streams."

It's still coming from FEMA. The DHS has been footing the vast majority of migrant flights and care, so maybe it would make sense that agency cover the cost.

At the end of the day the FEMA head and CIC have the gall to say they don't have enough money for destroyed villages while we are shipping migrants into swing states in a massive hurry trying to prioritize naturalization and voter registration for a process that would normally take years.

This is the irony and what is making some people mad, it's money for everyone else except those who need it. Who cares what agency or program is involved. How many billions towards the MIC helping Ukraine and Israel? 16B+ in the past week alone. I understand those are indeed important expenditures but throw your peopel a bone and keep the agency funded and don't screw up the recovery.

Why even spend $650MM on migrants to begin with, what's the hurry?

 

[Dave Hess]

I carry the max and mine is $935 a year .

What part of the country do you live in ?

 

[alarmguy]

Talking about flood insurance is fruitless unless we know what kind of coverage we are talking about.
Structure? Contents? Flood zone? if so flood zone designation

I think I can get structure only flood insurance on our home for less than $500 a year but chose not too. Also on a ranch home contents would be advisable, I can’t nail down details when we looked into it almost 2 years ago when we started building. It’s a bit uncomfortable not having it being flood zone X. Data says up to 25% of flooding happens in X.

However I see @SC Maintenance pays $700 but I think he has contents? We are in the same flood zone X which is minimal risk and not required by mortgage companies. It’s a tough call when you are in X. But he is being smart about it and gets it.
I suspect many who do not have it are rethinking that choice. Also when it comes to Flood X there is further designations of “shaded x” and “unshaded x” We maybe in shaded X I remember a neighbor showing me a map with it, however I’m coming up with unshaded now. It’s tricky as this is new cleared land for homes FEMA just states X for my address.

Here are the links to check if you are in a flood zone or near one. FEMA makes it easy. Just enter your address.

https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home

And flood designations,
https://insurify.com/homeowners-insurance/knowledge/flood-zone-x/

 

[SC Maintenance]

Talking about flood insurance is fruitless unless we know what kind of coverage we are talking about.
Structure? Contents? Flood zone? if so flood zone designation

I think I can get structure only flood insurance on our home for less than $500 a year but chose not too. Also on a ranch home contents would be advisable, I can’t nail down details when we looked into it almost 2 years ago when we started building. It’s a bit uncomfortable not having it being flood zone X. Data says up to 25% of flooding happens in X.

However I see @SC Maintenance pays $700 but I think he has contents? We are in the same flood zone X which is minimal risk and not required by mortgage companies. It’s a tough call when you are in X. But he is being smart about it and gets it.
I suspect many who do not have it are rethinking that choice.
Here are the links to check if you are in a flood zone or near one. FEMA makes it easy. Just enter your address.

https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home

And flood designations,
https://insurify.com/homeowners-insurance/knowledge/flood-zone-x/

Zone is only one part of it, is my understanding. Height above grade, construction type, if that area has ever flooded before, and so on. I do have contents, and I have the max for both. I figure if they pay for my old couch might offset the cost of the rebuild

 

[alarmguy]

@SC Maintenance
Thanks for that post with the details. Awesome for those details.
We are in a new section 2018 flood map just shows sat image of cleared land with no homes but outline of streets still not paved.

Our area is right in the middle of two XE zones. The closest XE is literally about 1/4 mile away if that. On the other side is 1/2 mile if that. We also have that Creek in our back yard that some lakes drain into when water gets high.
I suspect Asheville area event will move some people across the country in X and non flood zones to rethink things.

 

[SC Maintenance]

@SC Maintenance
Thanks for that post with the details. Awesome for those details.
We are in a new section 2018 flood map just shows sat image of cleared land with no homes but outline of streets still not paved.

Our area is right in the middle of two XE zones. The closest XE is literally about 1/4 mile away if that. On the other side is 1/2 mile if that. We also have that Creek in our back yard that some lakes drain into when water gets high.
I suspect Asheville area event will move some people across the country in X and non flood zones to rethink things.

I honestly don't think we will ever flood. You never know but I am pretty good with topography and as I said, the 1000 year flood in 2015 never got close. Having said that I don't trust insurance, so I figure if a hurricane ever comes along and there is a debate whether its wind or flood damage, I can hand both policies to a judge and ask them to tell whomever needs to pay, to pay.

 

[ka9mnx]

When a hurricane flooded a town near where I used to live over 20 years ago, numerous homes were lost. Their owners said they had been told they "didn't need" flood insurance or the insurance "wasn't available to them".

When I moved here in 2002 I contacted my insurance company and wanted to purchase flood insurance. I was told I didn't need it. I got it anyways. Later, while talking with my local friends they told me "if you live here and don't have flood insurance, your a fool".

Every year when the FI bill comes the wife asks if we really need it. That was until Hurricane Mathew. What FEMA, and my insurance company, paid out well covers my FI premiums from day 1 to well into the future.

This year FEMA remapped our county and the entire county is a flood zone.

 

[RhondaHonda]

Zone is only one part of it, is my understanding. Height above grade, construction type, if that area has ever flooded before, and so on. I do have contents, and I have the max for both. I figure if they pay for my old couch might offset the cost of the rebuild

View attachment 243755

My buddy has a place in St. Pete Beach and is in zone AE. The same FEMA coverage of $250k/$100k is $8,500/ year for him. He can’t even get homeowners insurance anymore and was paying something like $58,000 annually before he was dropped. That was on a small ~2,000 SF house. He got an inch or so of water in the house this storm, which is enough to be a giant pain in the rear.

 

[alarmguy]

My buddy has a place in St. Pete Beach and is in zone AE. The same FEMA coverage of $250k/$100k is $8,500/ year for him. He can’t even get homeowners insurance anymore and was paying something like $58,000 annually before he was dropped. That was on a small ~2,000 SF house. He got an inch or so of water in the house this storm, which is enough to be a giant pain in the rear.

Once your in zone AE your are in a designated a flood hazard zone. 25% chance of flooding in a 30 year time period. Thing is once there the government flood insurance can be cheap compared to the homeowners insurance for a hurricane area like your friend has. $58 k a year? Good god, self insurance would be cheaper
https://smartfinancial.com/flood-zone-ae

 

[RhondaHonda]

Once your in zone AE your are in a designated a flood hazard zone. 25% chance of flooding in a 30 year time period. Thing is once there the government flood insurance can be cheap compared to the homeowners insurance for a hurricane area like your friend has. $58 k a year? Good god, self insurance would be cheaper
https://smartfinancial.com/flood-zone-ae

Yeah, he inherited the house and is considering selling. He’s currently just self-insured after getting dropped a year ago but on the bright side he saved $58,000.

My in-laws live in Naples and pay $50k but aren’t on the water like my buddy. They are considering self insuring as the lot value now far exceeds what the dwelling is worth. They figure they’ll just take their chances and if the house gets destroyed, they can just sell the lot and get a condo. I believe their named storm deductible is something like $250,000 or so on top of the annual premium. They haven’t had but some landscape damage and pool cage damage in the 12 years they’ve owned it.

 

[billt460]

Nothing about it on the news and anything about it on the online websites are buried under election news or twisted to whatever website's political preference is.

That is exactly it. If this happened 6 years ago, it would be broadcast 24/7 on how terrible the government is performing in getting aid to these people.

 

[Mechanician]

Not here in the Midwest. Nothing about it on the news and anything about it on the online websites are buried under election news or twisted to whatever website's political preference is.

Do you get the national news where you live?
The national news here runs right after the local news at dinner time.
The opening story everyday since last week, has been about the terrible devastation, and deaths, in that region.