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Javier Said:

Flood insurance?

We Answered:

The ways they don't have flood insurance:
They don't have mortgages.
Their house slipped through the cracks and mortgage co didn't see they were in flood plain.
The owners paid off surveyors to say they weren't in the flood plain.
The most likely reason is: Flood insurance is only required for 100 yr flood plain and this flood is a much greater magnitude. Some people in this flood actually weren't in the flood plain. This is one of the greatest floods on record. A flood of this size is mapped or planned for because it isn't cost effective.
All that said-I AGREE. The tax payers will pay dearly for people without insurance and for public infrastructure that was damaged.
This is not like New Orleans where the government should buy the 9th ward and that area and let NO ONE build ANYTHING there.
You have to blame the flood but also the people who live in the flood plain.

Theodore Said:

Why does FEMA require flood insurance when your house is not located in a flood zone?

We Answered:

FEMA NEVER requires flood insurance - it offers it. The BANK is requiring flood insurance, in order for you to borrow the money.


Every few years, the National Flood Insurance Plan "re-maps" areas. Your area might not have been in a 100 year flood plain for the first mortgage, but a re-mapping could mean it supposedly is now. You can always contest it, by providing an "elevation certificate" which you need to get from a surveyor.

Flood plain areas change, due to construction, erosion, and water movement patterns.

Additionally, it might not be in one, but the person reading the flood map might have made an error with the reading.

The short of it is - this isn't FEMA, this is the bank. Flood plains change. And people make mistakes.

Gloria Said:

How to drop a flood insurance.?

We Answered:

The only way you can do that is to pay the lender off.

Bradley Said:

Flood Zone C, does the mortgage company require insurance?

We Answered:

Only your lender can tell you that for sure.

Sherri Said:

Do I have to get flood insurance? My mortgage company sent me a letter?

We Answered:

You have two options:

1. Dispute your flood zone status with FEMA. You can start this process at their website. Be aware that there will be lots of paperwork and requirements - possibly a survey (that costs money) to determine your elevation and stuff like that.

2. Buy insurance - the rates are cheaper than you think and you are only required to get coverage equal to the principle balance still due on your house. Your mortgage company can tell you what the balance is.

I just got a letter a week ago, too. Just to give you an idea of what rates are like, I purchased $62,000 in coverage for my home - that's my mortgage balance. I did not get coverage for contents. The annual premium is $608, so that's about $50 per month.

I've read that it might actually be cheaper to get building coverage together with contents coverage, so I may check into that this week to see if I can lower my rate even more.

Best of luck. I know it seems unfair, but the mortgage company has its way because technically they are on the hook for your loan, and they probably own "more" of the house than you do anyway, so they are just trying to protect "their" property.