Glades County, Florida, has the fourth lowest county population in the state. While the population of Glades County is low, the county itself is far from small – it covers 250 square miles of Lake Okeechobee, the largest lake in Florida. If you’re looking to get away from the noise, Glades County offers excellent fishing, quiet backroads, and plenty of opportunities for scenic photographs.
Florida residents have to face the possibility of floods, and Glades County is no exception. Flood risks are continually on the rise because of climate change. Several high-risk flood zones in Glades County make flood insurance a smart idea. After all, homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, and the Okeechobee River and Glades County’s various canals are prime catalysts for floods when prolonged rainfall, hurricanes, or tropical storms occur.
While the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) used to be Florida’s only option for flood protection, we're proud to offer cheaper flood insurance rates for Glades County homeowners.
Glades County flood insurance costs
How much your flood insurance costs depends partly on how likely it is that your home may experience flood damage. Glades County is over 18% water, and that indicates that floods could be likely.
The good news is that Risk Factor rates the flood risk in Glades County as moderate. The reason? County officials are already investing in flood mitigation.
That could help keep your costs down, but it doesn't mean you can skip flood insurance altogether. Between 20% and 25% of flood claims occur outside of high-risk flood zones. Plus, it doesn't take a lot of water to cause damage. Even one inch of standing water can cost roughly $25,000 in repairs.
Whatever your flood risk is, getting affordable flood coverage goes a long way towards giving you peace of mind that you can recover should you see damage. Contact us for a quote and keep in mind that your rates may vary based on your flood zone and other factors.
Flood zones in Glades County
Take a look at the flood zones in Glades County, and you’ll see most of the region is either in a high-risk flood zone or near a high-risk flood zone. The two high-risk flood zones in Glades County are:
Flood Zone A is most prevalent near Lake Okeechobee while other high-risk flood zones can be found near the county's numerous creeks, rivers, and canals. Both have a 1% annual chance of flooding and a 26% chance of flooding over a 30-year mortgage period. Flood zone A 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 predicted to rise during a base flood. A base flood (or a 100-year flood) is a flood that has a one percent chance of exceeding base elevation in any given year.
What does flood insurance cover in Glades County?
When comparing flood coverage options, remember that price isn’t the only factor. You should also consider service.
For example, with the NFIP, you must have an elevation certificate and wait 30 days for your coverage to take effect. With us, your coverage is effective immediately and you can add it to your homeowners' policy. No juggling two policies, two premiums, and two deductibles. It keeps things simple: we match your flood limits to those for your home, other structures, and personal property.
Flood insurance can help pay for repairs when a storm surge or broken water main causes water damage to:
- Electrical, heating, cooling, and plumbing systems.
- Appliances.
- Carpeting and window treatments.
- Personal property.
- Cabinets and paneling.
- Detached garages and sheds.
And more!
How to find your home's flood risk
If you own a home in Glades County, you can use Risk Factor to see your property's flood history, current flood outlook, and future flood risks. For example, 43% of properties in Palmdale, Florida, are at risk of flooding. That number is projected to grow by 7% in the next 30 years, too.
Once you understand your property's risk for flooding, you can take steps to minimize your home's risk of flood damage.
Flood insurance guides for Florida counties
