Homeowners across South Florida and the Treasure Coast who lack flood insurance may have to pay for flood repairs themselves, according to insurance attorney Aaron Bass. More than a foot of rain this week flooded homes, stranded drivers and forced some residents to evacuate. The Ibis neighborhood in West Palm Beach was among the hardest hit, with dozens of vehicles stranded and streets under water.
Much of Ibis sits outside federally designated high-risk flood zones, so many residents never bought flood policies. Bass said standard homeowners policies generally do not cover damage from rising floodwater, and he said there is no workaround to get that coverage through them. Repairs can run into the thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Bass recommended contacting the Federal Emergency Management Agency and nonprofit groups such as Samaritan’s Purse. FEMA help is not guaranteed and depends on whether federal disaster aid has been authorized for the area. Some residents may qualify for low-interest disaster loans, which must be repaid. Samaritan’s Purse said its volunteers are tarping roofs and stopping water from getting inside. Residents can also dial 211 to reach local assistance programs and should check their county emergency management websites.
Bass said the storm is a reminder that living outside a high-risk zone does not remove flood risk. He urged homeowners to consider buying flood insurance even when a mortgage lender does not require it, noting that premiums vary by property, location and coverage. Experts advise residents already dealing with damage to photograph and video everything, keep receipts and contact local emergency officials.
