Bridgette Bello thought she’d taken proper precautions to protect against Florida’s notorious hurricanes, having purchased flood insurance as well as a separate hurricane-specific policy, in addition to her regular homeowners coverage.
That’s because flooding caused much of the property damage — and most homeowners insurance policies do not cover any flood impact.
A resident cleans the front of his mobile home in Sarasota, Fla., on Oct. 10 after Hurricane Milton.
Eva Marie Uzcategui / The Washington Post - Getty ImThe insurance industry is categorizing Hurricane Helene as an almost entirely flood-driven event.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the government-backed plan covering 95% of flood insurance policyholders in America, only covers losses up to 50% of what it deems a property to be worth — not including the land that the property sits on.
Persons:
Bridgette Bello, she’d, Helene, —, Milton, Bello, ”, “, Rick Tutwiler, Hurricane Milton, Eva Marie Uzcategui, Amy Bach, Mark Friedlander, Friedlander, adjusters, ” Friedlander, ” Patti Drew’s, Deborah, Drew, didn’t, “ I’m, Shane Ostrander, Ostrander, Kathleen Flynn, she’s, Martin Weiss, Weiss, Chip LaMarca
Organizations:
Associates, NBC, Hurricane, Washington Post, Insurance Information Institute, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Flood Insurance, NBC News, “, Broward County Republican
Locations:
Madeira Beach, Tampa, Milton, Florida, Sarasota , Fla, “, Punta Gorda, Florida’s, Charlotte County, America, Fort Pierce, Fla, Orlando, Broward County