A typical Washington homeowners policy written through Farmers, State Farm, Allstate, and Progressive, for instance, exclude flooding as something that the policy covers 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 get an endorsement of your homeowner’s policy to cover flooding. Don’t be too surprised if the answer is NO.
It is important to have flood insurance coverage in Washington because our beloved state has seen a fair share of flooding.
Most Homeowners who own property in Washington think about flood insurance at some point, maybe before buying a home or during the 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. This time is too late.
You may decide to forgo purchasing flood insurance coverage.
Your real estate agent and other insurance agents out of ignorance about the real risk might have told you-you didn’t need flood insurance because the property is in a non-lender-required flood zone.
And our last few significant storms there was flooding in these low-risk areas an 90 percent of all those who had flood water in their home or building didn’t have flood insurance coverage.
However, a few things must align for you to get government assistance.
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 assistance.
2) the average amount of aid 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 $38,000+, and that $5K you get from the government? It comes as a loan, and 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.
If the area was developed, there is likely more concrete creating a barrier for land that might have absorbed the massive downpour.
Because of all these factors, it is tough for property owners to know their actual 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 Washington’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.
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.
Inadequate information about an area’s flood risk can leave property owners under or uninsured.
Suppose you have Nationwide flood insurance, State Farm Flood Insurance, Progressive Flood Insurance, or any of the logos below. In that case, you are buying the NFIP flood policy that has their logo on the declaration page and are just reselling through a government program. These companies are private companies, but their flood insurance is not. Here is a list of the 70 companies that resell the NFIP policy.
The average cost of flood insurance in Washington state can vary greatly depending on several factors. According to data from FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the average annual premium for flood insurance in Washington is around $900. However, this figure can be significantly higher or lower based on the specific location and flood risk level of a property. For instance, homes in high-risk flood zones, such as those classified as Flood Zone AE or VE, can expect to pay substantially more for coverage, often exceeding $1,500 annually. Conversely, properties in low-to-moderate risk areas may qualify for the NFIP’s Preferred Risk Policy, which can cost as little as $400 per year. It’s also important to note that these costs can fluctuate over time due to factors like changes in flood maps, insurance rate revisions, and the occurrence of major flooding events in the area. Consulting with a flood insurance specialist can help Washington residents accurately assess their specific risks and obtain quotes tailored to their property’s unique circumstances.
The cost of flood insurance in Washington depends on many factors unique to the structure. We are going to try to give you an idea of the most common homes we see in Washington with subgrade crawlspaces.
We will look at the cost of flood insurance for the NFIP maximum of $250,000 for the (building only) with NO CONTENTS and our recommended deductible of $5,000.
We will rate all these examples on the NFIP and on a few of our Lloyds options.
Cost of Flood Insurance in Washington in high-risk flood zone AE
Our example is Mount Vernon, but the premiums will be the same if in Seattle, Centralia, Burlington, Snoqualmie, Redmond, Vancouver, Aberdeen, Hoquiam, North Bend, and many other Washington state flood zones.
We will rate all these examples on the NFIP and on a few of our Lloyds options.
Cost of Flood Insurance in Colorado in high-risk flood zone AE.
Our example is in Mount Vernon, but the premiums will be the same if in high-risk flood zones in Chelan County, Clallam County, Clark County, Cowlitz County, Grays Harbor County, Island County, King County, Kitsap County, Kittitas County, Lewis County, Mason County, Okanogan County, Pacific County, Pierce County, Skagit County, Snohomish County, Thurston County, Whatcom County, and Yakima County.
In our example, the Base Flood Elevation (BFE is 29) is a home built before 1973.
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 showing 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 thrilled when we can get this option. They can be a bit choosey about what risk they will accept and will not take anything that has had a flood loss. They do offer coverage for basements (one of the few). This policy also has about $2,000 for loss of use. $2,000 for other structures can’t increase this coverage, so if you have a larger structure, please speak with your agent about how to increase this coverage or maybe get a separate policy for this “other structure” on your property. 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 delighted when we can get this option for our clients as well. 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 29, if the lowest floor is 25, then they will not accept this risk, they will not take anything that has had a flood loss. They offer limited basements coverage, about 2% of the building coverage (this is better than the NFIP but not exactly what we would like to see – better than nothing, though). They do not require an Elevation Certificate to rate. And as a percentage of coverage for loss of use, usually 10% of coverage. If you want coverage for other structures, then that will need to be added to this policy. Note: make sure to tell your agent if there are any other structures on the property if the policy doesn’t have that written on the policy, there will not be coverage for any other structure.
Coverage of $250,000 building coverage (no Contents coverage) and $5,000 deductible
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. I will write practically all risks, don’t need an elevation certificate to rate, and are sometimes a bit lower in premium than the NFIP. In this case, the NFIP Lloyd’s and NFIP are beating this option.
Chelan County, you have 418 flood policies and are paying a total of $255,672 to the federal government for your flood insurance, making your average cost $611.65. If you are paying more, let us shop for a new policy might be a good idea.
Clallam County, your average is $900.51 with 365 policies and paying a total of $328,688. What a beautiful place to live for “the strong people” and Sol Duc River or along the shores of Lake Crescent or Hoh River. We would be honored and willing to shop a flood policy for any Werewolf, Shape Shifter, or Vampire who would like to save money on their flood insurance.
Clark County has 525 NFIP policies and is paying $352,142. Making your average $670.74, which is an excellent price for flood insurance if you are getting this price, keep the policy in place as long as you can; if you aren’t getting this price, it might be a good idea to look for another option or have us Flood NERDS shop for you.
City of Vancouver, Washington life and festivals continue even if flooding is forecasted love this drive. I guess paying the average of $859.86 for flood coverage through the NFIP allows you to know you will be covered in the event of a flood for a reasonable premium. With 447 flood policies and paying collectively $384,454. This interactive city map is fantastic.
In Woodland, Washington, you have 513 flood policies and are spending a total of $385,360, making your average flood policy $751.19. Being the home of the Hulda Klager Lilac Garden, I bet the city smells amazing from April through May. Although we don’t sell Volcano insurance, we can help you with your flood insurance if you pay more than the average $751.19. Let us see if we can find better coverage at a better price. And buy Volcano insurance.
County of Cowlitz, WA, the City of Kelso, and the City of Longview, collectively, you have the 885 FEMA flood policies and are paying a total of $573,926 with the average flood policy of $648.50. With the rich Columbia River and Kalama River, my mouth is watering with the anticipation of the smoked salmon I intend to have with my scrambled eggs, spinach, feta cheese, and sourdough toast. The Smoked Salmon is from WA, of course. =)
In Aberdeen, WA, you have 470 National flood insurance program policies that pay a total of $722,484 to the federal program making the average cost of flood insurance $1,537.20. I would love to help you see if we can find a better premium for you. We are flood experts (Flood NERDS) and can help commercial properties, Condominium HOA, and residential properties control flood insurance costs and the Private flood insurance market in WA is growing. Let us shop for you by filling out our intake form.
Hoquiam, WA, has 572 flood policies and pays a total of $898,973 to FEMA, making your average flood policy $1,571.63. I would think we can do better.
Ocean Shores, you understand the draw of the water is on a peninsula and all your inter-connected lakes and canals. And you have your share of bird species. $411.86 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 608 flood policies and are paying a total of $250,420
Island County, Washington, is my favorite, with all the bridges and water. You have 946 flood policies and are spending $1,078,829. Bringing your average to $1,140.41. I have a deal for you if I can save you money and you rent your home for VRBO, let me know that I would love to spend a week in this beautiful country.
Auburn, WA; Bellevue, WA; Port Townsend, WA and Jefferson County, WA. We have been blessed to work with many amazing real estate professionals and lenders in this area. We have had much success in saving them significant time and money on flood insurance for their clients, with 846 flood policies paying a total of $669,232. The average cost of flood insurance in this area is $791.05 if you are getting quotes higher, let us see what we can do for you.
City of Kent, WA, your average flood policy is around $1,226 with 715 flood policies with NFIP and a total of $876,892. I pause to wonder if you are overpaying for your flood insurance. It looks like the Flood map is over 24 years old. Hasn’t the community grown during that time?
King County, WA, you are our leader in flood policies for Washington State, with 2,290 active flood insurance policies and paying $1,991,568 total for the NFIP coverage. The average cost of flood insurance is $869.68. If you do not see this price, let us know what we can do for you. We guarantee to shop the plan to validate options within your region so you get a fair picture of what flood insurance should cost in your area.
In North Bend, WA, you have 576 flood policies and are paying about that much in premium, $547,412. Your average is about $950.36. The famous cult fiction Twin Peaks brought awareness to how beautiful and eerie this landscape region of Washington state is. What mysteries are keeping?
The city of Redmond, WA we, have you to thank for all the technology of this century, being the home of Microsoft and Nintendo. Your flood insurance average is $617.89. With 413 NFIP flood policies and paying a total of $255,189. PS thanks for Mario Bros!!
City of Renton in Washington State, located on the southeast side of Lake Washington and divided by Cedar River, you are quite comfortable with water. I love SALMON!! You have 175 flood policies and pay $228,925 to the federal government. I think we can do better than the average flood insurance cost for Renton of $1,308. Give us a call to let us shop for your flood policy at 1-866-990-7482. Your flood nerds.
City of Seattle, Washington, you have 796 flood policies and are paying $501,631. The average flood insurance policy for this area is $630.19. 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 Washington state. You might be able to increase your coverage and get a better price and reduce your risk.
The City of Snoqualmie, Washington, has one of our nation’s most beautiful waterfalls. You also have 476 flood policies and are paying $693,660. With the average flood insurance policy being $1,457, if you want to see if we can save you money, I, think we can fill out our intake form to get us shopping.
The city of Centralia, Washington, is a beautiful stopping point between Seattle and Portland, Oregon. The average flood policy in this area is $865.64. With 676 flood policies and paying $585,174 to the federal program.
The city of Chehalis and the rest of Lewis county have 1,177 NFIP policies and pay a total of $1,056,093 to bring your average to $897.27, although Chehalis is paying a slightly higher proportion of $1,588.
Mason County, you have 392 flood policies and are paying a total of $412,238 to bring your average to $1,051.
Okanogan County, WA, you have 239 flood policies, with the average flood insurance cost being $655 and a total payment of 156,611.
Long Beach, WA, and Pacific County, Washington combined have 763 flood policies; $326,324 is what you are shipping to DC in flood premiums, bringing your average to $427.68. 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.
In the city of Orting, WA, you are quite familiar with the damage that flood waters can cause on November 7, 2006, when in 2 hours, many of your houses were drowned halfway. Even if you are in what is considered low to moderate risk, on FEMAS maps, I would still highly recommend that you buy a flood policy they are quite reasonable considering the catastrophic event it would cover. You have 367 active flood policies and are paying a total of $234,924, making the average flood insurance cost $640.
Pierce County, Washington you have 1,492 flood policies and are paying, let’s total $932,315. This cost would make your average $624. If you don’t see this premium, let’s see what we can do about it.
In Puyallup, Washington, Your average flood insurance cost is $819.88. With 376 flood policies and paying the NFIP, the total of $308,276. Thanks for hosting the Washington State Fair with flair, making this event one of our nation’s ten largest.
Summer City, Tacoma, and University Place. With WA combined, you have 492 flood insurance policies. With the average cost of flood insurance in Washington state being $901, your premium average is around $709.12. And you are paying FEMA a total of $348,888.
Burlington is a city in Skagit County, Washington; you have a long history of flooding with 975 flood policies and paying a total of $997,364 in coverage with 975 flood policies. The average is coming to $1,022 i. If you are spending more and have never had a flood, Considering 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.
Skagit County, Washington State, you have 2,137 active flood insurance policies, with the total premium being $2,137,088, bringing your average premium to $1,000.
Snohomish County with your cities of Stanwood and Sultan Washington. You have 1,978 active flood insurance policies and are paying a total of $2,257,519. This makes the average flood insurance policy cost in Snohomish county, Washington about $1,141.32
Thurston County, WA, and Olympia, WA combined, you have 753 Flood policies, paying, on average.and CountTogethertotal of $553,430. Your average flood insurance cost is $734.96. Thanks for your commitment to Earth DAY and creatively leading the US state with your invention of the Procession of Species celebrations.
Whatcom County, WA, Lummi Indian Reservation, Ferndale, WA, Everson City, Washington, you have 1633 NFIP flood policies $1,541,946 is what you are paying in total. Bringing the average flood policy in this area to $944.24
Toppenish, Washington, Yakima City, and Wapato City have the rest of Yakima Count; your average flood insurance cost is $894.39. With 1131 FEMA flood policies and paying a total of $1,011,553.00