How Much Is Flood Insurance in Alabama? Average Flood Insurance Cost and Coverage

Alabama's county-level and individual risk factors, such as the structure of your home and the frequency of floods, affect the cost of flood insurance. Usually, your homeowner or renters insurance won’t cover flood insurance.

Flooding in Alabama occurs quite frequently. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), one inch of flood water may cost up to $25,000. Even if your Alabama house is in a low-risk flood zone, you should think about purchasing flood insurance to safeguard yourself from the high costs of flood-related damage.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Cost of Flood Insurance in Alabama
• Flood Insurance Companies in Alabama
• Flood Insurance Coverage
• Flood Insurance Cost Factors in Alabama
• Do You Need Flood Insurance?
• Alabama Flood Insurance FAQs

Alabama's average annual cost of flood insurance is $732 due to the state's number of flood-prone locations. However, rates may vary depending on your proximity to a flood zone and certain property risks. People who reside in flood-prone areas frequently pay higher insurance premiums.

Alabama's average flood insurance premiums are less expensive than the national average. This could be because Alabama has fewer flood zones.

The lowest premiums, at around $319 yearly, are found in Perry County, while the highest premiums, at roughly $3,576 annually, are found in Clay County. The MoneyGeek table below displays the typical cost of flood insurance for each county in Alabama.

Many people get their flood insurance through the NFIP, but you can also get it through a private insurance company. Similar to NFIP policies, these frequently have a base policy as well as an excess policy (supplemental coverage for a base policy).

Homeowners in Alabama should evaluate private carriers if they feel that the NFIP coverage is insufficient or that they are not a part of an NFIP community.

Residents can get flood insurance from NFIP partner insurance companies with offices in Alabama. MoneyGeek compiled a list of NFIP-affiliated insurance companies and their accompanying phone numbers below.

Purchasing flood insurance in Alabama is straightforward since there are no additional coverage requirements. Contact the NFIP Hotline at 877-336-2627 or your home insurance agent to get started.

Since the NFIP has a 30-day waiting period, purchase your flood insurance policy as early as you can. Private insurance providers in Alabama, however, may only impose a waiting period of ten days or more. Consult your insurance agent for more information.

A regular flood insurance policy in Alabama will cover your building and its contents. Remember that a single inch of water inside your home might cause as much as $25,000 in flood damage.

The only things that flood insurance covers are structures and personal property. Your basement is not covered, nor are any pools, decks, money or landscaping. In addition, an insurance policy against floods does not cover vehicle flooding.

Building coverage is one component of a standard flood insurance policy. This covers damage to the actual structure of your house, such as:

• Foundation walls
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• Furnaces, central heating and air conditioning
• Built-in appliances
• Permanent carpets
• Built-in furniture

With an NFIP insurance, Alabama residents can purchase up to $250,000 in building coverage.

Flood insurance contents coverage will pay to fix or replace your personal belongings in a covered event. The following is a list of some of the personal items that flood insurance frequently covers:

• Clothing
• Furniture
• Electronic equipment
• Washers and dryers
• Artwork

A typical NFIP policy has a $100,000 cap on contents coverage.

Before October 2021, geographic factors alone were used by insurance companies to determine the price of flood insurance. FEMA's interactive maps allow users to view flood risks in counties throughout the country.

With 119 flood incidents since 1996, Jefferson County has experienced more flooding than any other county in Alabama. The lowest number of incidences, meanwhile, is seven in Coosa County. Flood insurance costs around $1,257 in Jefferson and $913 in Coosa per year.

In October 2021, FEMA introduced Risk Rating 2.0. This system examines specific property concerns, such as the building's foundation, structure, elevation, replacement and repair costs as well as how frequently it floods, in addition to mapping flood zones.

However, where you live still has a significant impact on the cost of your flood insurance in Alabama. Here is a breakdown of a few of MoneyGeek's flood insurance cost-determining elements.

Flood insurance is not typically included in renters or homeowners insurance policies.

Private flood insurance comes with advantages. Providers must still pay claims if your home floods, even if a presidential disaster proclamation has not been issued. The cost of flood damage can easily exceed the $5,000 household grant level that is typically provided by the federal government for disaster relief.

Every property is vulnerable to floods, so it doesn't matter if you live in a low or moderate-risk location. Flood insurance is required for people with mortgages who live in high-risk flood zones and offers additional protection to policyholders.

Flood insurance is a potentially complicated topic. MoneyGeek has answered some frequently asked questions to help you purchase a policy.