Flood Insurance: Why You Need It as Heavy Rains Increase Across the US

Increasing Frequency of Heavy Rainfall Events

• 🌧️ Heavy rainfall events are becoming stronger and occurring more frequently across the United States.
• 📈 A study by Climate Central found that hourly rainfall rates have grown heavier in nearly 90% of large US cities since 1970.
• ⚠️ These intense rain events can lead to roads becoming rivers and stranding vehicles, as seen in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.

Why Standard Home Insurance Isn't Enough

• 🏠 Standard home insurance policies typically do not cover flooding.
• 💸 If your home floods without flood insurance, you could be responsible for paying out-of-pocket for all repair costs.
• ⚠️ Even minor flooding can result in very expensive damage.

Factors Contributing to Slower Storms

• 🌡️ In the summer, the jet stream shifts further north, leading to a smaller temperature difference between the equator and the Earth's poles.
• 🐌 This can cause storms to move slower, allowing rain to fall faster than the ground or infrastructure can drain it.
• 🏙️ A stalled storm system in Chicago dropped as much as 5 inches of rain in just 90 minutes, illustrating this phenomenon.

Recommendations for Flood Insurance

• 💡 Experts recommend that everyone should have flood insurance.
• 💰 The average cost of flood insurance in the US is approximately $899 per year, according to NerdWallet.
• 🆘 If you do not have flood insurance and your home floods, NerdWallet suggests exploring options like FEMA grants, local government assistance, and nonprofit help.