Hurricane season begins June 1, and along with it comes a reminder of the importance of maintaining flood insurance separate from other types of insurance policies, particularly given our area’s susceptibility to storm surge. On Hilton Head Island, flooding may stem from different kinds of natural phenomena such as hurricanes, storm surges, high tides, and heavy rainfall. The best way to mitigate flood-related damage is to be prepared.
Through our participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), federal flood insurance remains available to all residents, even if your home is located outside the high-risk flood zone. Flood insurance is a separate policy from your standard homeowner insurance policy and it provides critical coverage from damages due to flooding and flood-related erosion. Here are some things to consider as you review your policy thoroughly:
• Know your flood zone and learn more about the variety of strategies you can use to protect your property.
• Separate coverage is available for building structures and contents.
• You do not need a mortgage to purchase flood insurance; renters can get coverage to safeguard personal belongings, regardless of whether the property owner invests in structural coverage.
• Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to go into effect. Do not wait until disaster strikes to learn that you are underinsured or not covered.
Our community’s commitment to sound floodplain management practices has earned us a Class 5 rating from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS). This rating not only reflects our effective flood management, it also translates to a potential 25% discount on flood insurance premiums for Hilton Head Island property owners. Since 1991, our town has been actively involved in FEMA’s CRS program, which evaluates communities based on their effectiveness in managing floodplains. This includes public information, mapping and regulatory standards, flood damage mitigation, and flood preparedness. Certified floodplain managers are on hand to provide information and address inquiries regarding Flood Insurance Rate Maps, flood map determinations, local drainage issues, coastal erosion, flood risk assessments, flood elevation certificates, and construction requirements. For more information, or to reach a floodplain administrator, visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov/flood/insure.cfm.
Always remember, we live on a barrier island. Please take the time to protect the life you built here with flood insurance.
