Hurricane Helene Survivors Face a Second Disaster—Insurance Woes

image via New Scientist

October 3, 2024, 4:45 PM

• •Hundreds of thousands of people across parts of the Southeast will struggle to rebuild their homes after Hurricane Helene for one reason: Hardly anyone has flood insurance.
• •In dozens of counties in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina that were flooded by Helene, less than 1 percent of households have flood insurance through the federal program that sells almost all of the nation’s flood policies.
• •The minuscule coverage rates will slow recovery, drain household savings and force some to abandon their homes.

Hurricane Helene Survivors Face a Second Disaster: Few Have Flood Insurance Only 2 percent of households in parts of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina that were flooded by Hurricane Helene can get insurance payments. In dozens of counties in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina that were flooded by Helene, less than 1 percent of households have flood insurance through the federal program that sells almost all of the nation’s flood policies. Property owners are required to purchase flood insurance if they have a government-backed mortgage and live in a high-risk flood zone. The zones are determined by FEMA flood maps, which are widely considered outdated and inaccurate, failing to depict current flood risk.

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