Hardee County, Florida Flood Insurance

How to get flood insurance in Hardee County, Florida

Hardee County, Florida’s lack of development isn’t a bug – it’s a feature. Hardee County’s remote nature is part of what appeals to residents here. The area is full of hidden gems for nature lovers. Take Pioneer Park, for example. Visitors can experience Florida’s wildlife up close on an elevated boardwalk.

While Hardee County doesn’t make the list of Florida’s most flood-prone regions, the county’s various rivers and creeks make flooding a real possibility. Florida has more than 11,000 miles of rivers, streams, and lakes coupled with flat terrain – a recipe for flood risk. When Florida is hit with hurricanes and tropical storms, flooding is all but guaranteed.

Let’s take a closer look at flood insurance costs in Hardee County and when you’re required to have this coverage.

Hardee County flood insurance costs

Though Florida flood insurance has a reputation for being expensive, it’s actually pretty affordable in regions like Hardee County. Our average yearly premium for the region is $121, about $366 cheaper than the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) at $487 a year.

That rate is particularly low in comparison to the cost of one inch of standing water in a single-family home: about $25,000 in repair costs.

Kin vs. NFIP average flood insurance premiums

Average premiums give you a ballpark figure to start planning for your coverage needs but remember: your flood rates will vary based on your flood zone and your home’s construction. Contact us to get an accurate quote in minutes.

One big driver behind Florida’s flood insurance costs is hurricane exposure. Because the state is likely to endure a lot of tropical storms, flood insurance rates tend to reflect that risk. Here are some statistics to give you a better idea of the state’s flood risk:

• Nearly 20 percent of Florida counties have experienced 50 or more flood events in the past 50 years.
• 2.9 million single-family homes are at risk for storm surge damage from Category 5 storms.
• The cost to rebuild all of the above homes would be $581 billion.

Despite these risks, we can offer flood insurance that's less expensive than the NFIP for 71 percent of Florida homeowners.

Hardee County flood zones

FEMA flood zone maps are excellent tools to help you understand your home’s chance of flooding. The map for Hardee County shows some high-risk flood zones: Zones A and AE. If your home is in either of these zones and you have a federally-backed mortgage, you’re required to have flood insurance.

Flood Zone A and AE both have a 1 percent annual chance of flooding. Put another way, there’s a 26 percent chance that a home in these zones would flood during the course of a 30-year mortgage.

What Hardee County flood insurance covers

Where you buy your flood insurance determines how much coverage you have. While flood insurance from any provider can cover water damage from storm surges, rising waters, and broken water mains, not all providers offer the same amount of coverage or cover all structures on your property.

For example, our flood insurance covers your home, other structures, and your belongings. Because we add it on to your homeowners' policy, we match your flood limits to your home limits. So if you have $400,000 in coverage for your home, you have that much in flood insurance for your dwelling, too.

By contrast, the NFIP has more restrictive limits. It caps at $250,000 for the home and $100,000 for belongings. It doesn’t cover other structures on your property, like sheds.

How to reduce your home’s flood risk in Hardee County

To reduce your home’s flood exposure, first, you need to learn about it. Check out a tool like Flood Factor. Just type in your address to see your home’s current and projected flood risk. You can even look up your area to get a bigger picture. For example, 17 percent of all properties in Ona are at risk of flooding. It also shows that environmental changes are behind the rising risk in this area.

Next, you can take steps to reduce your home’s risk of flooding, like:

• Keep water-sensitive items out of the basement or crawlspaces.
• Install foundation vents or a sump pump.
• Apply coatings and sealants to your foundation.
• Install gate valves on your pipes.
• Grade your lawn away from the house.
• Point downspouts away from your home.

For more disaster preparedness tips, check out “How to Make a Disaster Preparedness Plan.”