Let me tell you a story about Tom.

Tom isn’t some reckless homeowner who ignored the warnings. He wasn’t one of those people who thought, “Ah, it’ll never happen to me.”

No.

Tom was prepared—or so he thought.

He worked his butt off to buy his home. He kept it in top shape—mowed the lawn, cleaned the gutters, made sure the roof was solid. And because he wasn’t about to let a freak storm wipe out everything he worked for, he got flood insurance.

He did what the bank told him to do. He checked the box. He thought he was safe.

Then, the rain came.

Not just a little sprinkle.

I’m talking about three straight days of biblical, “start-building-an-ark” kind of rain.

By day two, his street looked like a river.

By day three, his home was sitting in three feet of dirty floodwater.

A total disaster.

But hey—Tom had insurance.

He called his insurance company, expecting them to say, “Don’t worry, Tom! We’ve got you covered! We’ll cut you a check and have your house good as new in no time.”

Instead, they hit him with the worst news possible.

👉 His home would cost $400,000 to rebuild.
👉 His flood insurance policy? Only covered $250,000.
👉 His total repair costs? $300,000.
👉 His out-of-pocket bill? $50,000.

Fifty…. Thousand…. Dollars….

Gone.

Just like that.

And here’s the real gut punch:

This could have been avoided.

The Dirty Little Secret Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know

Most homeowners assume that if they have flood insurance, they’re covered.

They think, “Well, I pay my premiums every year, so if something happens, they’ll take care of me, right?”

WRONG.

Flood insurance isn’t like regular home insurance.

It’s not based on what your home is worth—it’s based on what it costs to rebuild.

And with construction costs skyrocketing, rebuilding today is more expensive than ever.

Tom had no idea.

Neither do 80% of homeowners—until it’s too late.

And when that moment comes?

It hits like a freight train.

How Much Flood Insurance Do You REALLY Need?

Here’s what no one is telling you.

Your flood risk isn’t just about where you live—it’s about what’s happening around you.

You might think, “I’ve been here for years, and we’ve never had a flood. I’m fine.”

Maybe.

Or maybe your entire flood risk changed overnight—without you even knowing it.

Think about this:

Maybe ten years ago, the land upstream from your house was nothing but open fields and trees. When it rained, the soil absorbed the water.

Now?

A developer came in and bulldozed everything to build a shiny new shopping mall, a parking lot, or a massive housing development.

What happens now when it rains?

That water no longer has anywhere to go—except straight into your neighborhood.

And FEMA?

Their maps are outdated and slow to update.

That’s why low-risk homes are flooding every single year.

And homeowners like Tom are left out to dry—literally.

This is exactly why you need a Flood Nerd from BetterFlood.com to run a real flood risk assessment for your home—because if you’re relying on FEMA to tell you whether you’re safe or not, you might as well flip a coin.

Why Most Homeowners Are Sitting Ducks When Disaster Strikes

1. Your Lender Only Requires the Minimum

If you have a mortgage, your bank might require flood insurance—but guess what?

They only require the bare minimum to protect their loan, not your home.

So when a flood wipes out your house, you’re left with a massive bill you never saw coming.

2. You Insured Your Home for Market Value, Not Replacement Cost

Here’s where most people screw up.

Your market value is what someone might pay for your home today.

Your replacement cost is what it actually takes to rebuild your home from scratch.

And guess what? Rebuilding is WAY more expensive than you think.

If your coverage is based on market value, you’re screwed.

3. You Didn’t Think About Your Stuff

A flood doesn’t just ruin floors and walls—it wipes out everything you own.

Your furniture? Gone.
Your electronics? Fried.
Your appliances? Destroyed.
Your clothes? Waterlogged and useless.

And here’s the nasty little surprise—NFIP flood insurance policies cap personal belongings coverage at $100,000.

Which, for most families, isn’t nearly enough.

How to Make Sure This NEVER Happens to You

Most people think, “I’ll just check FEMA’s flood maps.”

Big mistake.

Here’s what you actually need to do right now:

Step 1: Think About What’s Happening Upstream

Has there been new construction near your home? A new neighborhood? A mall? Anything that could change how water moves?

If so, your flood risk just skyrocketed—even if FEMA’s maps haven’t caught up yet.

Step 2: Talk to a Flood Nerd

At Better Flood, your flood nerd will go beyond FEMA’s outdated maps to determine exactly how much insurance you need, helping you secure the strongest protection available and maximize your potential payout for your home and any damages—because while no policy guarantees complete coverage, getting the right one makes all the difference.

Step 3: Get a Real Replacement Cost Estimate

Don’t guess. Know.

Make sure your policy covers the FULL cost of rebuilding your home today—not just the bank’s minimum requirement.

Final Warning: Fix Your Coverage Now or Pay the Price Later

Tom thought he was safe.

He thought his flood insurance would have his back.

Instead, he got a $50,000 bill that nearly ruined him.

Don’t be Tom.

Talk to a Flood Nerd. Find out your real flood risk. And make sure your insurance actually has you covered—before it’s too late..