Flood insurance in Gadsden County

Gadsden County sits in the Florida panhandle near Tallahassee, the state's ninth-largest city. When visiting Gadsden County, you'll find Victorian architecture, a passionate arts scene, and plenty of opportunities for recreational activities at places like Lake Talquin.

Even though Gadsden County has less flood exposure than its coastal peers, 20 to 25 % of flood claims happen outside of high-risk flood zones. In fact, floods recently shut down major roads across Gadsden, with one resident noting, “It was like a river.” Many folks have faced damage to their homes and had to replace their cars.

It's a good reminder that flood insurance is for everyone. And while we can't control Florida weather, we can help you pay a lower rate for flood insurance.

Gadsden County flood insurance costs

Florida may be known as the Sunshine State, but its weather doesn't always live up to its name. That and the state's 54 inches of annual rainfall means Florida has a higher risk of flooding. The result? Florida flood insurance can be pricey.

We developed our coverage to be more competitive than the NFIP for up to 70% of Florida. In addition to lower premiums, purchasing flood coverage directly through Kin allows you to:

• Pay one home and flood insurance deductible.
• Pay one annual premium for home and flood insurance.
• Work with one provider for flood and hurricane claims.
• Skip the elevation certificates.
• Match your flood limits to your dwelling coverage limits.

Keep in mind that these costs may vary based on your home’s exact location and your safety features. The only way to know for sure what you’ll pay for flood insurance is to contact us for a quote.

Your home's flood zone impacts how much you pay for flood insurance, so let’s take a look at FEMA’s flood map for the area.

Flood zones in Gadsden County

The FEMA flood zone map for Gadsden County shows the area's rivers pose risks for flooding. Nearly all of the high-risk flood areas in Gadsden County exist in and around the area's rivers. There are two high-risk flood zones in Gadsden County:

• Flood zone A.
• Flood zone AE.

A and AE flood zones have a 1% annual chance of flooding and a 26% chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage period. An A flood zone has a 100-year floodplain with no determinable base flood elevation (BFE), while AE zones have a 100-year floodplain with determinable BFEs.

BFE is the height to which a flood is expected to rise during a base flood. A base flood, also called a 100-year flood, is a flood that has a 1% chance of exceeding base elevation in any given year.

What does flood insurance cover?

Flood insurance pays for repairs and replacements when floods, groundwater seepage, or broken water mains damage your home, belongings, or other structures. It insures your property is up to the limits of your homeowners' policy.

It doesn't cover:

• Boathouses or anything boats are attached to.
• Fences and retaining walls.
• Sea walls.
• Hot tubs, pool, and pool equipment.
• Landscaping.
• Decks.
• Septic systems.
• Moisture or mold/mildew damage that could’ve been prevented.
• Additional living expenses when a flood makes the home uninhabitable.
• Cars and other vehicles.
• Earthquakes and earth movements caused by floods.

Reducing your flood exposure in Gadsden County

Check out Flood Factor to get a sense of your home’s flood risk. Reports on Flood Factor reflect:

• Your home’s current risks.
• Whether flood risks are rising due to environmental changes.
• How flood risks are projected to change in the next 30 years.
• Ways we can protect Florida from flooding.

Just type in your address, ZIP code, or city to get a snapshot of your area’s flood risk. For example, only 8% of properties are at risk of flooding in Havana, Florida. That flood risk is projected to increase by 3% in the next 30 years.

In addition to brushing up on your home’s exposure, take steps to reduce your own property's risk of flooding. Making your home more flood-resistant can result in lower flood insurance premiums. For example, you might grade your lawn away from your house so water is less likely to pool around your foundation.

It’s also smart to draw up a flood-response plan.

Flood insurance guides