Located in the North Central portion of Florida, Gilchrist County offers residents a peaceful rural life that’s defined by several natural springs and a small-town feel. While Gilchrist County is known for its laid-back feel, its tropical storm exposure has led to flooding and disaster area labels from the government.
With Florida flood risks continually rising, flood insurance is necessary. One silver lining for Gilchrist County residents? Our flood insurance rates are lower on average in your region.
Keep reading to discover:
- Why Florida flood insurance rates are so expensive.
- How our flood insurance stacks up to the NFIP.
- How to learn about your home’s flood risks.
Gilchrist County flood insurance costs
The cost of flood insurance in Gilchrist County depends on on several factors. The most important of these are:
- Your flood zone.
- Your home's safety features.
- The insurer you choose.
While Florida is prone to flooding because of its 11,000 miles of rivers, waterways, and streams coupled and flat terrain set, Gilchrist Count residents may be a bit better off. Flooding is so common in Florida that homes in V and A flood zones are required to purchase a flood insurance policy. Risk Factor rates the overall flood risk in Gilchrist as moderate.
That said, Gilchrist County does have areas with high flood risk (more on that in the next section) where homeowners may be required to get flood insurance.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) used to be the go-to option for flood protection, but we can help most Florida residents get a cheaper flood insurance rate. Money isn’t the only thing you’ll save, either. Florida residents who purchase a separate flood insurance policy from the NFIP have to wait 30 days before their coverage takes effect. With us, there’s no waiting period.
Additional benefits of our Florida flood insurance include:
- No separate deductibles.
- One premium for home and flood insurance.
- No elevation certificate is required.
- We handle both your home and flood insurance questions and claims.
Gilchrist County has several high-risk flood zones, which means a lot of homeowners in this region may be required to have flood insurance. Let's take a closer look at the flood zones in Gilchrist County.
Flood zones in Gilchrist County, Florida
According to area flood maps, Gilchrist County does have areas designated as high-risk flood zones:
Flood Zones A and AE flood zones have a 1% annual chance of flooding and a 26% chance of flooding over a 30-year mortgage period. The rest of Gilchrist County is at a moderate to low risk for flooding, but several areas have undetermined flood risk.
What Gilchrist County flood insurance covers
Flood insurance can help repair your home, other structures, and belongings after they experience water damage from a source outside of the home, like storm surges or broken water mains.
While it provides a lot of coverage, there are some items and structures 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.
How to assess your home's flood risk
Start by understanding your home’s actual risk of experiencing a flood. You can type in your address in Risk Factor, a peer-reviewed resource that summarizes your area’s past and future flood risk.
For example, in Newberry, Florida, 22% of its properties are at risk for flood damage. It projects in 30 years, almost 11% more properties will be at risk.
Once you know your risk, take measures to lower your home's risk of flooding. Doing so can decrease the chance of claims and keep your flood rates lower over time. It’s also smart to have a plan for how your family will respond if your home ever floods.
Read about flood insurance in your county
