Despite Hurricane Helene causing catastrophic flooding, most homes in the hardest-hit inland counties lacked flood insurance, leaving residents facing years of financial hardship.
Kevin Crowe, Shannon Osaka, and Molly Hennessy-Fiske report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Only 0.8% of homes in the hardest-hit inland counties had flood insurance, compared to 21% in coastal areas.
- FEMA's aid is insufficient to fully rebuild homes, forcing many survivors to rely on temporary shelter and other short-term assistance.
- Outdated flood maps and high costs discourage many from purchasing flood insurance, increasing vulnerability in future disasters.
Key quote:
"Flood risk is under appreciated across the nation — even in flood prone areas."
— Jeff Jackson, interim senior executive, National Flood Insurance Program
Why this matters:
As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of storms, more areas previously considered low risk are experiencing devastating floods. Without better flood insurance policies, families may continue to face financial ruin after such disasters.
Related: Hurricane Helene exposes Southeast's flood insurance gap
