A typical Oregon homeowners policy is written through Farmers, State Farm, Allstate, and Progressive, for instance, excluding flooding as something that will be covered under their homeowner’s policy.
In most cases, the only way to get flood coverage is by purchasing a stand-alone flood insurance policy.
However, you should ask your homeowners agent if you can provide an endorsement to your homeowner’s policy to cover flooding.
Don’t be too surprised if the answer is NO.
Do Need flood insurance in Oregon?
Having flood insurance coverage in Oregon is important because your beloved state has seen a fair share of flooding.
Most Homeowners who own property in Oregon had thought of flood insurance at some point, maybe before buying a home, or during the loan closing process, however many of us only think about it when a big storm is looming or we have heard on the news that there is flooding forecasted and are home may be at risk.
This is too late.
You may decide to forgo purchasing flood insurance coverage.
You may have even been told by a real estate agent and some insurance agents that you don’t need it. Please, 50 years of facts our government has around flooding in the United State.
And our last few major storms, we saw flooding in these low-risk areas.
90 percent of all those who had flood water in
Some people believe that the government will help them after a flood, and this may be true (kind of), considering that there are a few things that must align for you to get government assistance after a natural disaster.
1) the president of the united states must declare the flooding event as a state of emergency. If this doesn’t happen, then there won’t be Federal assistance.
2) the average amount of assistance a homeowner gets after a flood when they do not have flood coverage is $5,000, the average cost of damage to one’s property after a flood is $45,000+, and that $5K you get from the government? It comes in the form of a loan. You will need to pay it back. Are you willing to gamble your financial future by forgoing flood insurance coverage?
One more note on these low-risk flood zone maps. Many of them are over 40 years old.
Oregon, in particular, has many maps that are 40+ years old. If the area has been developed, there is likely more concrete creating a barrier for land that might have absorbed the massive downpour.
Since 1975 Oregon’s population has grown from 2.33 Mill to 4.12, which is more than double as many people that need homes. All this to say that if your home has been built during this time, there is a good chance that your property could be at risk for flooding, and you may not even be aware.
Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the United States, and Oregon has seen its fair share of devastating floods.
Because of all these factors, it is difficult for property owners to know their true risk of flooding.
FEMA admits that their flood maps only give an idea of part of the risk. Our recent storms are facts that it can rain anywhere within Oregon’s borders, and you should consider getting flood coverage so you are not uninsured when you need it most.
Fema flood zone maps often take years to go into effect after the terrain was studied; this gives the impression that the area is “more up to date” than it is.
So worth it to have coverage and not need it than not to have coverage and wish you had it.
If your lender doesn’t require flood insurance for your Oregon property, it DOES NOT mean you are safe from flooding.
FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and all federally backed lenders rely on these maps to assess risk, set premiums and determine who is required to purchase flood insurance.
Bad information about an area’s flood risk can leave property owners under or uninsured.
Lenders should demand updated maps.
Many factors go into getting the Cost of flood insurance for Oregon if your home is located in a low-to-moderate risk.
This is usually identified as an X-flood zone then we would suggest the government Preferred Risk Policy (PRP) which is a subsidized policy and has set flood insurance coverage limits (see the grid below)
Our example is in Madras, but the premiums will be the same if in Portland, Central Point, Grants Pass, Eugene, Lincoln City, Salem, Beaverton, Sheridan, Keizer, and many other Oregon flood zones.
In our example, the Base Flood Elevation (BFE is 2249) and is a home that is built before 1974
Flood insurance companies in Oregon
NFIP option in Oregon Flood Zone AE
Coverage of $250,000 building coverage (no Contents coverage) and $5,000 deductible
This option is what we see if the property has had a flood loss before, and either doesn’t have an Elevation Certificate applied or the Elevation certificate shows that the lowest floor is 4 feet under the BFE for the area. You can use 10% of your coverage to cover other structures on your property.
Coverage of $250,000 building coverage (no Contents coverage) and $5,000 deductible
This option is great, and we are very happy when we can get this option. They can be a bit choosy about what risk they will accept and will not take anything that has had a flood loss. They do offer coverage for basements. And about $2,000 for loss of use. $2,000 for other structures can’t increase this coverage. They do not require an Elevation Certificate to rate.
Coverage of $250,000 building coverage (no Contents coverage) and $5,000 deductible
This option is great, and we are very happy when we can get this option for our clients. They seem to be writing almost all risks. However, they do not write any property that is in a designated floodway or has a depth of -4 under the BFE in our example; with our BFE being 2249, if the lowest floor is 2246, then they will not accept this risk, they will not take anything that has had a flood loss. They do offer limited coverage for basements. Do not require an Elevation Certificate to rate. And as a percentage of coverage for loss of use. If you want coverage for other structures, that will need to be added.
Coverage of $250,000 building coverage (no Contents coverage) and $5,000 deductible
Private flood insurance (option 3) Not Lloyds,
This option will take properties that have had one flood loss before as long as it has been more than five years and the payout was under $100,000 on the claim. Their coverage matches the NFIP. Will write practically all risks, don’t need an elevation certificate to rate, and are a bit lower in premium than the NFIP.
This option must be written on the Replacement Cost Value (RCV) of the building; otherwise, a co-insurance penalty kicks in. So $250,000 might be a bit low in Oregon, but to keep this going, let’s just use that for this option
Coverage of $250,000 (RCV) building coverage, 20% Contents coverage standard, 10% other structures and 10% loss of use and $5,000 deductible
This options rating system is all over the board sometimes; we get a crazy great price other times, and the premium is way higher than the NFIP will consider taking a property that has had one flood loss before as long as it has been more than ten years. The payout was under $150,000 on the claim. Their coverage must be at Replacement cost, which is a bit different from some of our other Lloyd’s flood options. We usually reserve this one if the property doesn’t fit the above options. We can adjust coverages to control premiums. As mentioned before, this underwriter’s rates are all over the board it is worth shopping through to ensure we are getting you the best premium we can. They don’t need an elevation certificate to rate.
Albany, OR, you have 247 flood policies and are paying a total of $230,425 to the federal government for your flood insurance, making your average cost $932.89. If you are paying more, let us shop for a new policy might be a good idea.
Benton County, OR, your average is $904.94 with 219 policies and paying a total of $198,181.
Clackamas County, Oregon With Mt Hood watching over you and lake Oswego, your area is rich in beauty. You also have one of the highest flood insurance policy counts within the state of Oregon.
I guess paying the average of $1,125.34 for flood coverage through the NFIP is a bit high. I think you might do better on the private flood insurance market.
Let us flood nerds help you out. 1-866-990-7482.
You have 1,239 flood policies and collectively pay $1,394,167.
In the City of Lake Oswego, you have 220 flood policies and are paying a total of $200,602, making your average flood policy $911.82.Being south of Portland, you get to enjoy the convenience of having a large city close by but still have the home roots of a small town. Enjoy your Wild Swan.
Portland, Oregon, you have 1,814 FEMA flood policies and are paying a total $1,488,502 with the average flood policy of $820.56. Being regarded as one of the world’s most environmentally conscious cities, you have built strategically around the areas that would flood well.
Tualatin and West Linn, Oregon combined, you have 465 National flood insurance program policies paying a total of $456,053 to the federal program making the average policy $980.76.
I see a fair amount of Lomas that remove the property from the requirement to purchase flood insurance.
Remember that even though the government has removed property from the high-risk flood zone, it does not mean mother nature will pass on flooding your property.
It just means that the government will subsidize your flood policy.
Get covered it is far too risky not to have coverage. We can discuss your coverage option if you are interested.
Cannon Beach and Gearhart, Oregon, combined with Clatsop County, you have 1048 flood policies and pay a total of $899,628 to FEMA, making your average flood policy $953.84. If you are paying more than this, it might be time to shop.
Seaside and Warrenton, Oregon, you understand the draw of the water. And you have your share of bird species and Whale watching.
$589.76 is the average flood policy for this area (you guys have one of the best premiums considering all the water).
If you aren’t paying this amount or if your NFIP premium jumps way up (+25% is forecasted shortly), it might be a good idea to keep your options open and let the flood nerds shop.
You have 1017 flood policies and are paying a total of $599,782
Columbia County, Scappoose, and Vernonia, Oregon. Combined, you have 600 flood policies and are paying $481,975.
Bringing your average to $803.29.
Coos Bay, OR in Coos County or Oregon’s Bay area. With 341 flood policies paying a total of $502,800.
The average cost of flood insurance in this area is $1,474.48 making your area one of the state’s most expensive flood insurance.
Let’s see if we can get you a private flood insurance policy for around $800.
Curry County, Brookings, and Gold Beach, OR, have 284 active flood insurance policies and pay $188,721 total for the NFIP coverage.
The average policy is $644.51.
If you are not seeing this price, let us see what we can do for you.
We guarantee to shop the policy to all validate options within your region so you get a fair picture of what flood insurance should cost in your area.
Bend, Oregon, and Deschutes County, you have 193 flood policies and are paying about that much in premium, $113,531.
Your average is about $588.23. This is such a beautiful part of your state.
Roseburg, Oregon, and the rest of Douglas County, we have you to thank for that amazing Oregon wine.
Your flood insurance average is $1,012.92.
With 1,261 NFIP flood policies and paying a total of $1,277,309.
The city of Central Point in Oregon has 253 flood policies and is paying a total of $183,059 to the federal government.
I think we can do better than the average flood insurance cost for Renton of $723.55.
Jackson County, Oregon, you have 545 flood policies and are paying $397,501.
The average flood insurance policy for this area is $729.40.
This is rather good considering the number of policies. If you are accomplishing this low premium by reducing coverage, it might be a good idea to look at coverage through one of our private flood insurance options for Oregon.
You might be able to increase your coverage and get a better price and reduce your risk.
Medford, Oregon, you also have 261 flood policies and are paying $232,645.
With the average flood insurance policy being $891.36, if you want to see if we can save you money, I think we can fill out our intake form to get us shopping.
Grants Pass and Josephine County, Oregon’s average flood policy in this area is $840.05.
With 664 flood policies and paying $557,790 to the federal program.
Eugene, Oregon, you have 846 NFIP policies, and you are paying a total of $799,840 to bring your average to $945.44.
Florence and Junction City, Oregon, you each have 155 flood policies and are paying a total of $280,751 to bring your average to $935.83.
Lane County in Oregon has 2,056 flood policies, with the average flood insurance cost being $905.73 and the total payment of $1,863,999.
Lincoln City, OR, you have 744 flood policies; $ 480,864 is what you are shipping to DC in the form of flood premiums, bringing your average to $645.32.
WOW, if you are getting this premium, then maybe I should hire you. I am looking for good flood nerds that know how to save money on the cost of flood insurance in Washington state.
Lincoln County in Oregon. You have 1,130 active flood policies and are paying the total of $865,689 making the average flood insurance cost $766.09.
Newport, Oregon, Waldport, Oregon, and Yachats, Oregon, combined 385 flood policies and are paying a total of $359,873.
This would make your average $934.73. If you aren’t seeing this premium, let’s see what we can do about it.
Linn County, Oregon. Your average flood insurance cost is $949.81. With 502 flood policies and paying the NFIP a total of $476,805.
Keizer Oregon and Marion County combined, you have 716 flood insurance policies, with the average cost of flood insurance in Oregon being $888, and your premium average is around $670.35. And you are paying FEMA a total of $479,971.
Salem, Oregon, with 981 flood policies and paying a total of $1,174,909 in coverage.
The average is coming to $1,197 if you are paying more and have never had a flood loss, then let’s look at the private flood market for your flood policy.
If you are in an area where flood insurance isn’t required, you should consult a flood insurance professional to discuss the potential risk of flooding. Considering the area’s history, I would hate for you to be unprepared and uncovered if water comes into your beloved home.
In Multnomah County, Oregon, you have 147 active flood insurance policies for a total premium of $107,103, bringing your average premium to $770.
Dallas City, Oregon, and Polk County, Oregon. You have 278 active flood insurance policies and are paying $237,826. This makes the average flood insurance policy cost in Snohomish county, Washington, about $855.49
Beaverton, Oregon, you have 279 NFIP flood policies $389,533 is what you are paying in total. Bringing the average flood policy in this area to $1,396
Tigard, Oregon, and Washington County, your average flood insurance cost is $979.40. With 941 FEMA flood policies and paying a total of $921,615
Sheridan, Oregon, you have 311 NFIP flood policies $342,879 is what you are paying in total. Bringing the average flood policy in this area to $1,102.50