President Donald Trump declared a federal disaster in Kerr County after flash floods killed over 100 people and inundated homes, according to CNBC. Only 2.5% of Kerr County homeowners had flood insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Damage is estimated to be between $18 billion and $22 billion, yet most insurance policies exclude flood-related losses unless homeowners carry separate coverage. Nationwide, approximately 3.3% of households are insured against floods, despite 99% of U.S. counties experiencing flood events in the past two decades. FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program offers coverage up to $250,000 for structural damage and $100,000 for contents. Experts urge homeowners to consider standalone or excess flood insurance, especially as flash floods and tropical storms become more frequent in inland and mountainous regions.
