Adding to the devastation from Hurricane Helene, an alarming lack of flood insurance coverage exists in the counties hardest hit by the storm. While coastal counties generally have better coverage, inland areas are significantly underinsured.
Only about 2% of residences in the most affected counties had flood insurance. In North Carolina, that figure drops to just 0.7%, while South Carolina has an even lower coverage rate at 0.3%. This information comes from an NBC News analysis using data from the Census Bureau, PowerOutage.us, and National Flood Insurance Program policy data.
In the Southeastern states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, only about 5% of residences are covered by flood insurance, primarily along coastal areas. Many homeowners remain unaware that standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, leaving them vulnerable when disaster strikes.
Disaster struck hard one week ago. Before-and-after satellite images shared by NearMap illustrate homes that once stood but have since been wiped off the map, replaced by a flow of floodwaters.
FEMA does offer some assistance to individuals without flood insurance, but it’s important to note that this aid is usually just a fraction of the average payout for those with flood insurance policies.