Why Flood Insurance Is Failing The U.S.

[@skeezix8156]

The region I live in has rivers that flood the nearby houses. They call it a tragedy and then rebuild the house. It happens again the next year. And the next year. I ain’t no genius, but how about we stop rebuilding the houses near the river.

[@toriancromar]

For real

[@thatsawesome2060]

Well I know many place that never or hardly flooded, but people usually called it Ghost town in US where I don't think can sustain any people economically.

[@TheOzzyMartin1]

“Why don’t people just abandon their biggest investment and move some place else?” Because you can’t just sell it if you want people to leave entirely. So why don’t people just do this, I mean beyond flawed personal logic and failed systems/promises?

[@alexmikhylov]

just build it on pilons

[@alexmikhylov]

@@TheOzzyMartin1 there are well known ways to build a house so it's protected from flooding. it's not rocket science.

[@RubenTrucks]

I'm not a fool uhhhhh your house flooded three times and you still live there

[@robertfleming2432]

many of them have no choice as their mortgage might be underwater and the market is beginning to wake up to the imminent NFIP failure.

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

@@robertfleming2432 "underwater"

[@CulturalOasis]

😂

[@sws212]

@@robertfleming2432 A loss is a loss, dude. Sorry to say but the only problem with flood insurance is that it's allowing stupidity. The writing was on the wall when they bought the house and places like FL keep building new ones because people keep buying.

[@robertfleming2432]

@@sws212 you're not wrong but you have to be compassionate because not everyone who is in this situation bought their home. there are many people in these programs who have inherited homes that are very old and when they were built they were not in the flood plain. flood plain is shifting due to global warming

[@thrivinganarchy5267]

I think the higher the value of your home, the more you should pay for flood insurance. If you are rich and decide to be stupid and purchase a home near the coast, then you should pay way more for insurance.

[@robertfleming2432]

NFIP increases cost based on risk but the premiums are still not based on the real risk.

[@agisler87]

@@robertfleming2432 Exactly NFIP is a joke.

[@selanryn5849]

I lived in Houston for two and a half decades and I can’t even count how many floods I went through. Then Hurricane Ike dropped a tree on my garage. I was smart and gtfo at that point, now they’re seeing hundred-year floods practically every year.

[@robertfleming2432]

it is only going to get worse.

[@xxxxMonkeyGirlxxxx]

Yup my job wanted me to relocate to Houston... until I started talking to coworkers that live in Houston and they told me about all the flooding. Then I told my company nope and thankfully they were okay with it.

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

Where do you live now?

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

@@xxxxMonkeyGirlxxxx Where do you live?

[@Kuzyapso]

I live in Houston. Some people keep boats to travel the streets in case it floods

[@jessicacole8404]

*We need to build homes differently, and build in different places*

[@cardboardpackage]

how tho? give examples

[@joostglas5631]

Maybe first start to build your house out of stone instead of wood

[@agisler87]

@@cardboardpackage you can build houses higher off the ground to reduce risk of flooding. The type of materials you build with can help reduce risk of fires or damage from wind. This costs more but this also should reduce your insurance costs.

[@cardboardpackage]

@@agisler87 Okay but you are not Jessica. You are doing someone else's work.

[@agisler87]

@@cardboardpackage Such a weird statement.. It's an open discussion where anybody can respond. And it's not work, Jessica has no duty to respond to you.

[@kcgunesq]

I live in a "zone x" property and was willing to buy just for the remote chance. But I was told that I wasn't able to purchase flood insurance since I wasn't at risk. That is the exact opposite of how insurance should work.

[@robertfleming2432]

Thats incorrect information. Whoever was telling you that told you wrong. The only reason they could be correct is your community is not in the NFIP or noncompliant with the NFIP. You need to check to see if you have a floodplain manager or talk with an agent who is willing to do the legwork to find out. If you are in a non nfip community consider trying to get your community organized (There are often benefits for the community to do so , so they may be interested.) If you can't get NFIP, go with private market flood. FEMA is desperately trying to get x zone people into the program all the time - if you find the right WYO you should be able to get a policy no question as long as you are in an area that does not have local ordinances that got them kicked out of the program. If you need advice about obtaining flood insurance please reply to this message with a contact. I do not sell insurance or try to make a profit but i know a lot about the program. www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1629-20490-5244/fema_496.pdf

[@Think_Inc]

@@robertfleming2432 Expert!

[@mikeg9b]

I live in a "zone x" and do have NFIP flood insurance.

[@kcgunesq]

@@robertfleming2432 Thanks. I'll check again.

[@leec5170]

I'm buying a Zone X home right now. I'm buying flood insurance...call around.

[@thisiscrazy4122]

This is the most American idea of a title and question to ask yourself. The real question is, if a patch of land is deemed unsuitable due high risk of flooding, YOU SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BUILD ON IT !

[@robertfleming2432]

The federal flood program will not insure properties constructed in this manner for Post FIRM dates. Its allowed to build here but people are expected to self insure, and anyone that wants to do it is going to have to build with cash and not a loan as no underwriter will touch an uninsured property in a special flood hazard area

[@mr.10rupees43]

sorry but this is the american way. people from poor countries will not understand this.

[@runningfromabear8354]

@@mr.10rupees43 People from rich countries don't understand it either... American's are disconnected with reality. Britain and Australia and Japan and Canada (etc....) won't let you build on flood plains.

[@mr.10rupees43]

@@runningfromabear8354 Nature is meant to be twisted and conquered and subjugated at man's will.

[@bobs182]

Here in Florida property on barrier islands costs 10 times as much as on the mainland. Highest risk areas are the most desired.

[@litojonny]

Ben Shapiro: sell your house to Aquaman

[@robertfleming2432]

@Gilga Mesh can you provide specifics? if you have examples of better flood management practices i want to know so i can start to build them. Wikipedia lists the individual you mentioned as a pseudoscientist

[@offensivediscourse8514]

@@robertfleming2432 your wikipedia fax dont affect my feelings

[@kevinalbora562]

If everyone who lived near the shore had a fan we could just blow the hurricanes away.

[@paulsuprono7225]

Hmmmmmmmmm..............😬

[@davidcantor293]

NOT a bad idea lmao

[@bobs182]

We should nuke them or redirect them with a sharpie.

[@robertfleming2432]

@@bobs182 its going to alabama

[@Vandicoup]

Wise words. Even the great philosopher, Patrick Star, would agree with that! "We should take the hurricanes, and push them somewhere else!"

[@SuperPlayz]

Why don’t they just use sponge to clear the water?

[@heatherswanson1664]

They dont have enough furnaces to dry them out

[@bobs182]

They don't like sponging off other people.

[@amayurubashaka3608]

@@heatherswanson1664 If you put it in the nether then you can auto drying but Australia is quite far away.

[@dirtycommie2877]

Obviously because China is making all the sponges and they don't want us to have the upper hand during a storm.

[@thepeff]

I love this channel. It is so hard to find technical breakdowns in news like this.

[@todaystomorrow2545]

$10k per year I was quoted for flood insurance. I am not near water and I have a small home. I can’t afford $1k per month. That’s not right!

[@yexela]

Ok, just build a floating house 🏡

[@TheIcyhydra]

yeah maybe it could cost less than building on concretre...considering you'd need to remove the concrete, add hydrophobic coat, anchor the house using motorized spool of galvanic resistant cables. or put the house on stilt footings... or just put everything on wheels and leave as soon as there's a warning.

[@paulsuprono7225]

@@TheIcyhydra . . . . there you go, floating away . . . with the next wind, after sail instillation, Lol !"😎

[@TheIcyhydra]

@To The Point ** if they'd live in a flood area and they don't have alot of money to put their entire structure on super high stilts footing......but yeah don't think about it too much or else you'd get an aneurysm

[@wreckingopossum]

hmmm ... like a boathouse

[@maggiejetson7904]

and let it crash into another floating house

[@12kenbutsuri]

It is mind-boggling to me why anyone would buy a property with flud risk, unless there is a mandatory reason to do so.

[@robertfleming2432]

many of the properties are inherited and not bought. In many of the southern states just about all of it is at flood risk. If people want their gulf of mexico oil to show up well some of the people working there are living in these flood prone areas. Its a bad investment to live there but for many people on the corporate lifescript there is little other choice- major metros are so overcrowded people will live wherever they can. The other people living there are boomers and older who don't care too much about the medium to long term flood risk to their investment because by the time the NFIP inevitably fails they know they are going to be dead. They will live in a flood prone property for those great "ocean views"

[@12kenbutsuri]

@@robertfleming2432 that's what I meant when I said unless they have to.

[@lawerancelanham]

It's also mind blowing that flood is in the title and spoken of constantly throughout the video but people spell it like "flud". American education shining like ...da sun 🤣

[@Salsera7]

Yet in Florida the builders are allowed to rip out and burn every single tree to clear acres of land. WTF is going on!?

[@Steven-xf8mz]

insurance is about modeling the claims in such a way that the premium collected can be invested at a return where they can pay all their employees and fixed cost + some margin! if you think, on avg, your 200K home & most homes around you will need a rebuild every 3 years, then expect to pay at least 1/3 of it annually. there is no such thing as free money unless you're a Tech IPO. lol

[@kaasappel123]

They need to invest in dams and flood walls.

[@Steven-xf8mz]

@@kaasappel123 you're asking govt to spend money on its people. lol, good luck with that! Looking at our highway and bridge construction, we'll probably see something concrete in 20 years if they manage to move beyond the hundreds million dollar consultation phase.

[@robertfleming2432]

@@kaasappel123 dams and flood walls are not a workable solution for the entire US hurricane alley. They are important pieces of infrastructure for populated areas but its not economical to construct a levee on the entire coast. Even if you did this, you're not going to stop rainfall induced flooding. Rainfall induced flooding is basically impossible to stop when it gets severe as there is literally nowhere for it to drain out. pumping systems can stop it somewhat for minor and moderate events but ultimately it will fail. The best solution for US in dense areas is good flood control as you said but for people in more remote coastal/flood prone areas the best solution is to elevate all new buildings. elevation if properly done can take flood risk down to virtually zero - the only problem is its insanely expensive on existing construction

[@maggiejetson7904]

@@kaasappel123 They need to elevate the home using ancient technology. People in the old days don't build on the ground and then buy insurance policy, hoping that it will never flood.

[@OtakuSanel]

you forgot the 50% profit margin of private insurance so if your risk factor puts you at $500 a month. insurance will charge another $500 in pure profits of benefits you will never see and then when you do flood they will find a reason to deny your claim. Yes flood insurance would be that expensive if it actually priced in risk but it doesn't and that's also why they will denie nearly every claim. Just like all other insurance.

[@wineberryred]

Feds need to get out of the flood insurance business and let private insurance take over.

[@dirtycommie2877]

I can always tell by the comments how little people know about Emergency Management and Hazard Mitigation. The reason the feds are even involved in the first place is because private insurance companies are charging exorbitant premiums for flood insurance, of which most people in the flood-prone areas cannot afford. Insurance Companies are already a HUGE scam to begin with. The "free" market CANNOT fix everything. In some cases, the market only worsens an already devastating situation. But of course you wouldn't know that unless you actually had to assist disaster victims in picking up the pieces after they've lost everything.

[@wineberryred]

@@dirtycommie2877 I don't think the Feds should support bad behavior like building in flood prone areas. There's probably a good reason private flood insurance is so expensive.

[@ILovePancakes24]

The government should pay them market value for their houses and make them move out of flood zones.

[@crusherven]

@@dirtycommie2877 It's so expensive because in some of these areas it's almost a certainty they'll flood eventually. Perhaps no one should be living there.

[@johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555]

Maybe cause flood insurance is not adequately taking into account the risk. If you gotta pay a higher premium maybe you won't live in a flood prone area.

[@camerontaylor7471]

That was that one guys whole point in the beginning...

[@nathanaeltekalign2508]

The NFIP , as a government program, should provide unprofitably low insurance premiums to make it affordable those households that can’t afford profitably high insurance premiums.

[@crusherven]

@@nathanaeltekalign2508 Why?

[@JoseFernandez-cp3cv]

If insurance is worthless why force mortgage clients to buy insurance. ??????? it doesn't make any sense People can save that money themselves For the emergency when it comes

[@geofferypmeyers]

I just bought flood insurance 2 weeks ago. Closing on my 1st home in another 2 weeks. This was informative

[@robertfleming2432]

Make sure that you buy the policy limits - 250k building 100k contents if you have a lot of belongings. I have personally witnessed families bankrupted because they bought a low limit policy of like 20,000 just to get their federal mortgage to qualify. This is especially important if you are in a Special flood hazard area. Its also important to understand basement limitations - did you know your first floor of your home may actually be considered a basement for NFIP purposes and you will get paid almost nothing if it floods?

[@randallbermudez9021]

Mangrove trees prevent flooding.

[@rsrs8632]

I live in the low countries (Belgium/ The Netherlands), and despite this flooded houses are really rare. Look into it.

[@robertfleming2432]

benelux countries have very good flood control due to the high wealth per capita and a short coastline. Unfortunately these kind of projects will likely never be possible for the US as you would have to dam up thousands of miles of coastline.

[@jessicacole8404]

*In coastal Texas, only people who are poor or voluntarily buy old houses live on the first floor. All the new homes are on pilings. The problem is everybody's cars get flooded, and the poorest live in trailers, and can loose everything in one storm*

[@rsrs8632]

Wealth per capita is not higher than the US, and especially The Netherlands does not have a small coastline. For The Netherlands, if nothing was done, 8% of the country would be perminantly flooded (i.e. under water), and 25% would have regular flooding. But with consistent investment it rarly happens at all (poor or rich people). In Belgium local flooding did happen in the late 20th century after serious rainfall. The problem was too much concrete, too much build up area. So more land was given up for percipitacion and more local storage of water and less drainpipes. Now rarely anyone has problems. Point being, if the country (or region) as a whole takes the problem serious, it can be fixed. But not by doing it as individuals, but as a society, as a group. And the US is not good at working together for a common goal.

[@CulturalOasis]

@@rsrs8632 it actually is.... it’s spelled * permanently*, * precipitation*, *seriously*, *drain pipes* and *rarely*. Belgium should have an “,” before you continue that sentence.

[@4thHeaven]

Wait, federal flood insurance, but federal healthcare is too much?

[@lefthanded5473]

Bet Those boomers in Florida approve of that!

[@agisler87]

Just because we have one doesn't mean either is a good idea.

[@zaxarispetixos8728]

Don't build houses out of paper. Build out of concrete and bricks you wait for them to dry and you go back inside after a storm.

[@angelgjr1999]

Houses in the USA are built with wood because it’s cheaper.

[@zaxarispetixos8728]

@@angelgjr1999 too bad don't complain when they fall apart

[@SirZeck]

In my country woods are more expensive.

[@sivartb7273]

What if the house starts sinking?

[@zaxarispetixos8728]

@@sivartb7273 you build it on stable ground not on a slab

[@fordrac1ng81]

I looked at the flood maps before I bought my house, then went and looked at what could cause flooding in the immediate area. I then found the daughter of the man who built the house and lived in it for 70 years. She said it had been up to the driveway but no further since 1947 and the creek had been dug out so there hasn't been an issue since then. Do research before you buy a home. If you buy a house on the coast, do some research about elevation, floods, storm drain efficacy, etc.

[@robertfleming2432]

This is very good advice - one thing i would suggest is to ask the most long lived neighbor who has lived in the neighborhood consistently

[@happilysmpl]

In my country, historically the only people who live on the coastline are the fishermen community or super rich folks. Why would normal people live there?

[@lorddoma6637]

I love living in Pennsylvania. I don't have to worry about flooding, forest fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes are rare.

[@robertfleming2432]

it is a great state for people who love to minimize their natural disaster risk. probably one of the best. the only dilemma with PA is there are nuke plants on either side of the state

[@shaneviola8848]

I used to live there and we would get tornados every year that would knock the power out for a few days

[@lorddoma6637]

@@shaneviola8848 What part of PA you use to live in?

[@shaneviola8848]

@@lorddoma6637 the poconos, a small town called masthope with about 600 people.

[@lorddoma6637]

@@shaneviola8848 OK yeah I use to live in Bushkill PA when I was little and then moved to Allentown. In Allentown we didn't have to worry much about tornados but the Poconos are definitely more prone to tornadoes.

[@FowlorTheRooster1990]

then dont build on flood plains or marsh lands that water has to go some where, dont even think about flood defences as they do the exact opposite down stream

[@williamplanas7058]

Insurance is a scam. They make money denying your claims. Its fraud.

[@robertfleming2432]

If you had an insurance claim that was denied fraudulently, call your insurance commissioner.

[@MoonLiteNite]

government insurance is a scam* Real insurance is just insurance. You pay to avoid the chance of being ruined. $$$ making tip, insure anything you can't afford to lose. Your health, your lively hood (STD and LTD) and your home. If your claim is denied and shouldn't be, then sue them if you believe they are not upholding their end of the contract. There are thousands of lawyers out there would who love to take your case.

[@stanleykowrach1957]

My friend purchased flood insurance in Florida and after Hurricane Ike ,repaired the damage himself, used the left over $ tp pay off his debts and buy a new computer. His neighbor had np flood insurance and got free $ from the government. And purchased a new bass boat and lived in a popup camper in his driveway for a year.

[@deanmiller294]

One of the best reviews of the NFIP ever presented. This video was very balanced.

[@robertfleming2432]

nfip is going to fail, no matter how much the government tries to lie about it or plug the gaps. longbets.org/847/

[@luisrazi]

In Puerto Rico, if your property is in the flooding maps from FEMA/Local Planning Board, you’re obliged to pay for a flood insurance in the monthly payments or they won’t finance the property.

[@hasanhas00n1]

Maybe spend less on foreign wars and more on domestic social security, healthcare and FEMA. US military annual budget is 800 billion.

[@frnciscob1]

😞. I agree.

[@wenchai5923]

This is why President Trump is the greatest president in U.S. history. No wars, and bringing the troops home.

[@trawrtster6097]

I do agree with spending less on military, but it is employing a lot of American people. The military industry complex is effectively a big employment program. There needs to be a shift away from that industry to other industries over time.

[@steveo9683]

But then the US will start to lose its super power influence over the world.

[@Dankman9]

@@wenchai5923 lmao /facepalm

[@Quickonomics]

Well, seatbelts have led to people crashing their cars more often... so yeah, humans are weird.

[@MrVHI123]

Curious! I can't find any sources regarding this. Are you talking about the rate of crashes or just number of crashes? Remember, a rising tide lifts all boats. More people driving obviously lead to more crashes.

[@Quickonomics]

@@MrVHI123 I was referring to the Peltzman Effect. Peltzman analyzed the effects of seatbelt legislation and found that people drove more recklessly after seatbelts were introduced, because they felt safer. Although Peltzman's calculations turned out to be full of errors, his risk compensation theory still helps to explain why many safety interventions are less helpful than expected.

[@JD-yx7be]

@@Quickonomics was that per capita? If not it could simpley be population growth from baby boomers reaching driving age when seatbelts were intraduced. Also baby boomers were brand new drivers and have the highest likelyhood of an accident next to the very old which would have been people born in the 19th century at the time

[@MrVHI123]

@@Quickonomics Interesting! I read an article somewhere about professional football athletes with their protective gears. Apparently it makes them play more aggressively and recklessly.

[@XSpamDragonX]

private insurance companies shouldn't exist. there is no market pressure for them to serve their customers appropriately, the only market forces in insurance exist solely to minimise payouts and punish customers as much as possible.

[@robertfleming2432]

When it comes to flood insurance none of the key players involved agree with what you have to say. Legislators, companies, private citizens and consumers are waking up to the big failures of the NFIP. The federal government is underwriting/subsidizing trillions of dollars worth of liability in zones that are soon due to be ruined by global warming. Its better to offload the risk to private insurers and prevent the taxpayer from being wrecked. The only group of people who are hardcore against NFIP reform are probably some of the people who manage the program at FEMA and the smallish % of the policyholders who live in severe repetitive loss areas. I agree with what you say when it comes to health insurance and some other sectors but with flood/homeowners private is best. The claims process is cut and dry unless there are hard to define structural issues involved. If an insurance company tries to lowball the insurance commissioner will tear them a new one and possibly even ask for a penalty for lowballing. There is absolutely no reason for the federal government to be involved so intimately with flood insurance beyond setting the general guidelines on what flood policies should look like

[@JuneHarriseco]

Evict everyone living in a flood zone and pay them to move. Allocate the land to the national parks. This way we can still make money from it, but it's put to better use and people aren't hurt.

[@FowlorTheRooster1990]

or build houses on stilts or stay clear of flood plains

[@ginadelsasso288]

Instead of the government wasting money on subsidizing these peoples insurance they should prevent new owners from buying in these areas and start buying their homes back for imminent domain in the name of flood plains.

[@JAGX05]

Video doesn’t mention how this screws over folks who don’t live in risky areas by requiring them to buy flood insurance that only ends up subsidizing those who live on NYC and New Orleans. I found a property that was never going to flood and the program cost *$1,000* PER MONTH and didn’t even cover the cost of the property , and would likely not pay out according to the agent unless the basement was totally flooded and it moved i to the first floor. It is insane to pay for people to live in places that get wiped out every 40 years by a storm, and it will supposedly get worse with climate change. It is immoral to force others to pay for it. Our ancestors traveled thousands of miles to get here, but people refuse to move across the county away from the flood zones and the government encourages this, go figure...

[@robertfleming2432]

If the program cost over 1000 per month you were in a zone that was either very likely to flood or you had a misrating for your property. You need to hire a new insurance agent or call Fema to get your property rerated. 1000 per month is an insane rate for flood insurance. If you are living in a low risk zone like X, B, or C zones (similar to what you described as low risk) you would pay more like 800 a year. As for the basement issue yeh unfortunately NFIP offers very limited coverage for those

[@bobspizza7444]

Hey i agree. I'm a great driver so why the hell am i forced to pay insurance. Ya ooops no one bring s that up. Forcing everyone to have car insurance should be ILLEGAL

[@agisler87]

@@bobspizza7444 I believe New Hampshire is the only state that doesn't require auto insurance. At fault drivers must pay to damages within x weeks or they get their drivers license suspended..

[@rosemariebredahl9519]

Black mold grows in wet drywall in the heat of the south too. Replacement of affected sections is almost always required after floods.

[@Luke_Go]

A manager of one of the largest insurance companies told me that they don't want to insure hurricane endangered homes anymore.

[@robertfleming2432]

insurance companies likely have internal models showing how many areas are going to fail critically due to the effects of global warming. My sincerest advice for those who live in coastal flood zones is to get out as soon as possible because once the herd begins to sell en masse you won't be able to sell. The people who get out early and head to high ground will come out way ahead

[@Special_O.G]

They don’t cover anyways so what’s the use?

[@robertfleming2432]

Untrue. Flood insurance is required to pay out by federal law - if your insurance company or NFIP direct policy is not paying you you need to call your insurance commissioner, your congressman/woman, and your attorney general

[@rvw3022]

Building stick frame homes in flood valleys or tornado regions is truly idiotic and unsustainable.

[@camerontaylor7471]

Lmao! Why do you think Hollywood makes movies like the wizard of Oz and there’s a hurricane coming and all the people that live there are a bunch of inbreed poor folks?! Lol they are mocking the lack of sense in humanity.... If people really understood the bigger picture, think like human history going all the way back to ancient Egypt, and then move forward to colonization, and industrial Revolution.... people don’t realize we are literally all slaves, and all the good land has been reserved for the elite and their families and all the poor slaves, the rejects of society, the low life’s have been literally put into a boat and dumped into countries like America... the chosen land is Europe(why the founding fathers ever left the crown is beyond me) and in particular the real elite have chosen New Zealand as the promise land so when $hit hits the fan and the world comes tumbling down, they will have their private airplanes fly them off to their mega mansions secluded in the most beautiful country on earth...

[@robertfleming2432]

@@camerontaylor7471 yeh what you said here was true theres actually evidence the literal wizard of oz was about central banking en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_interpretations_of_The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz#Monetary_policy

[@busyrand]

This channel's videos are outstanding. Well done, super informative. Thank you.

[@paulsuprono7225]

'Risk' . . . is the primary factor, most fail to comprehend, consider . . . 😬

[@elhugeo]

Make a concrete foundation/footing. Have 2 solid water proof pumps/generators in said basement. Pump out the water as the basement is flooding

[@robertfleming2432]

Will not work in a serious flooding event, though that might work for minor localized flash floods. In a serious flooding event there is nowhere for the pumped drainage to go as the local area will be totally inundated.

[@pleasesayhi4009]

When I was a homeowner flood insurance was cost prohibitive, and that was in an area without crazy weather and a cheap, old, small house.

[@nahnahson]

FL resident here. Nfip costs me 1900. Private costs me 850. I signed up for private and went to cancel nfip. They say you can't cancel until your policy is over. This is the only type of insurance that does this, doesn't seem like nfip wants to let anyone go

[@nordette]

Are you stuck with two insurance now

[@nahnahson]

@@nordette yup

[@robertfleming2432]

the NFIP is going to fail. They are trying to get more people into the program to bail out the high risk properties. Its only a matter of time before it comes crumbling down: longbets.org/847/. Private is likely to fail as well at some point but not as catastrophically as NFIP will

[@edwinpadilla856]

Before buying or building take a look at a terrain map with elevation info, that will give a pretty good idea Of terrain composition best suited for a foundation, and Flood risk areas. You can find those in the local library.

[@rohi7597]

Yes right, for some northern parts of USA the base flood elevation rastor are available on internet

[@reginafisher9919]

Raise the rates for people in the worst zones my gosh this is crazy and catastrophic we are literally doomed

[@denniscamacho7990]

They want to live where it floods or near the ocean, fine. Pay more for the risk. Problem solved.

[@ph11p3540]

Sadly, it seems the majority of the worlds land is prone to flooding. Waterways, rivers and coastlines is where man prefers to build because the water provides so much opportunity for farming and commerce. There is not a single human settlement that can sustain itself without being near a water way of some kind so the occasional flooding has to be expected. No home is safe from flooding.

[@gregcurl7367]

It's not just flood insurance! I'm 68 and never in my life have I gotten a square deal from an insurance company, ever! The world would be better off without them.

[@Rolafairy]

Its 3 am and I have nothing better to do than watch a video about the failing flood insurance industry. What a sad life i live :(

[@blatherskyt]

You’re interviewing people who build in flood zones... really. How about talking to people in Arizona, Utah, etc... yeah, that’s what I thought. I love paying extra taxes for people who intentionally build in risky areas. Thanks!

[@hid400]

Is this rich people with beach houses problem?

[@robertfleming2432]

partially

[@Maverickgouda]

I’m not rich, not near a beach and been through this. Afterwards I was more aware of flooding events each time I caught them on the news. Plenty of cities/regions inland get flash floods. Think of any random city Good chance you came up with one near a body of water

[@hid400]

@@Maverickgouda sorry to hear that. Hopefully you all are safe.

[@Maverickgouda]

@@hid400 yeah, thank you! It was 4 years ago.

[@JasonSmith-eo2hu]

No. They just can complain because they got money. Most floodplains are where low income communities build because of the affordable land. They are the most impacted tbh.

[@jamesalias595]

Don't allow people to build in flood zones. Only allow one flood claim per life of ownership, then allow buyout and destroy the building and not allow rebuild.

[@vasu6494]

Makes no sense. If bad drainage leads to a flood, why should a house owner suffer?

[@AllUpOns]

@@vasu6494 Suffer? They're being fully compensated. The only one who suffers financially here is the taxpayer.

[@robertfleming2432]

The NFIP program already enforces buyouts on severe repetitive loss properties. Its not once per lifetime though. What you are proposing just would never work from an insurance standpoint. Its hard to get into details why in this brief forum but basically it comes down to the fact that not every loss is a total loss and this would create impossible mortgage underwriting issues

[@jamesalias595]

I am not saying private flood insurance can't cover them more than once during the lifetime of ownership, I am saying government underwritten flood insurance gives you one life line and then a second life line only if a buyout takes place, if a home floods twice, we don't need to pay for a third or forth or whatever, the home is in the wrong location or elevation and either needs to be destroyed or raised.

[@EMBer3000]

Any rebuilds should be required to be built on stilts high enough to stay dry in a hundred year storm, 50 years from now. If you build on the coast that basically means you would have a three story house and only live on the top floor and maybe have parking on the first since sea levelrise plus storm surge would probably equal about 16 feet higher water levels during a severe storm in 50 years.

[@robertfleming2432]

thats more or less already required by NFIP

[@TekkLuthor]

I have no regrets. That's not what your tone said

[@zachhomolka8512]

If FEMA has to bail a property out twice in a ten year period, they should pay replacement value for the house and land, and put the land into an environmental easement. That property should be returned to its natural ecosystem so it can perform flood mitigation duties. Also, FEMA should not in any circumstance pay any money to rebuild someones second home (im not counting rentals as a second home, since it is not occupied by the landlord and provides living space for a seperate family). If you have the money for a winter cottage in the Florida Keyes, you can pay to rebuild it when it floods. Enough of my tax dollars go to bailing out the rich as it is

[@robertfleming2432]

What you said about flooding multiple times actually happens. If someone floods too much FEMA will boot them out of the program . They either get offered to elevate or buyout. If you have interest in this issue look up "FEMA ICC Increased cost of compliance coverage" as well as "FEMA severe repetitive loss property"

[@tockero4277]

@@robertfleming2432 I agree, but how does that square with the entirety of New Orleans where it has been totally flooded and rebuilt several times in the past twenty years.

[@landlord5552]

My hose is 15 m. above the sea level and 300 m. from the sea, no problem.

[@cmdr1911]

Laughes in Great Lakes

[@roginkoshy3701]

Okay did you try keeping the house in a bowl of rice?

[@Abduelangote]

Interesting

[@jez1522]

Minimize subsidies. Move inland if you can’t afford the premiums. No subsidies for million dollar homes.

[@robertfleming2432]

I agree 100% with your idea the problem is when the subsidies are yanked its going to be a lot of financial loss, and will crash the markets. When this happens its basically going to be a disorderly coastal retreat and that probably scared the hell out of a lot of people. National security etc. But the NFIP cannot go on forever without big reform

[@camerontaylor7471]

@@robertfleming2432 oh no! Gotta save the markets ... 🙄🙄🙄

[@robertfleming2432]

@@camerontaylor7471 Markets = real world impact on real people. You may be a smug person who just explodes when you hear the word "markets" because you have some ideological bias but let me explain the real world impact of what happens when the housing market will fail in this area: People on the street drugged out dead suicidal no belongings, no nothing you may have a desire to see bezos lose his wealth but you must remember the normal people are going to be in big distress when they lose their home equity

[@gordonlumbert9861]

The worst part is that this insurance isn't actually available to everyone who may have flooding....

[@Swagalious689]

If the chance of the event happening is to high insurance companies dont want to insurance it regardless how high the premiums would be. They just aren't trying to go bankrupt.

[@robertfleming2432]

NFIP will insure almost anyone. If you are having specific issues getting NFIP insurance then its probably because no one has taken on the task of getting you to be designated as a floodplain management area. you can discuss that with your local community, go to fema and get your community rated.

[@maegary439]

Because there are no law's governing the industry the same when it comes to renters insurance.

[@robertfleming2432]

No, you're absolutely wrong and its almost like you didn't even watch the video. the NFIP is LITERALLY a top down federally managed program - 95% of the programs core functions are run by a government official . The only private sector involvement with the NFIP are claims payouts and policy marketing and even there fema has the final say

[@montelds]

I would like to see a comparison of this to earthquake insurance for Californians

[@robertfleming2432]

earthquake insurance is private run and rates low

[@commentorsilensor3734]

I talked to a lot prople including one programmer who worked at insurance company? 1 You have to pay high deductible. If 9 earthquake comes, you have to pay a lot money. Then insurance compensates after the high deductible. May as well save the premium to fix my crappy house. 2 if 9 does come, insurance companies may collapse first. Not sure if it is true, but i am not taking that risk

[@robertfleming2432]

@@commentorsilensor3734 Yeh its possible if a 9 quake would come on specific spots on earth that it would wipe out the insurance companies and most likely the entire financial system of some nations

[@minhle-qd8qf]

When can we build flood resistant house?

[@joaohmendonca]

In a house made of bricks and with ceramic floor tiles, with 1in flood, the costs are 20 dollars in cleaning supplies (if that much).

[@chidenisee]

I live in Charleston SC. It gets flooded here now at high tide on a clear day now. People kayak in the streets. I plan on moving away from the coast at this point.

[@robertfleming2432]

move ASAP and if you own real estate there get out before the NFIP fails and your mortgage and home both go underwater.

[@dexx_7112]

try learning from Japan 🤷

[@robertfleming2432]

japan floods out annually from typhoons as well as severe storms. Two key differences between the countries: 1. High population density and shorter coastline in japan makes better flood infrastructure workable 2. japan does not have an NFIP

[@thrivinganarchy5267]

@@robertfleming2432 So is there just private flood insurance then?

[@robertfleming2432]

@@thrivinganarchy5267 As far as i'm aware japan has no national flood insurance and its all private. Multiple sources online report that the japanese government does have something similar to in the US what we call FIRM (Flood insurance risk maps). So they at least help the citizen to evaluate the flood risk

[@hueyfreeman7010]

They are building Walls.

[@matthewbaese5472]

Yes because 6 inches of sea level level rise In 100 years is really gonna make a Yuge difference. Actually not really

[@robertfleming2432]

Its already making a massive difference, and 6 inches is not the 100 year estimate. Try more like several meters

[@ninjanerdstudent6937]

5:29 - That looks like an atoll.

[@felaeiafeline9061]

People should make houses without wall windows and doors and just make their windows made of stone and their passage should be ladders instead and if they want to put something to the house they should make a ramp like a castle. 😛

[@jmtrad1906]

In Brazil when is in flood risk area they just elevate the house

[@WikiTicky]

So others are paying indirectly for beach front property owners.

[@vincentgarcia6231]

“All americans are in trouble” Also news: if you live somewhere it rain you need flood insurance. Arizona: 💀

[@JasonSmith-eo2hu]

I’ve worked on flood zones in Flagstaff and Pheonix.

[@CaptainCaterpillars]

@@JasonSmith-eo2hu - Try Havasu or Yuma. Rains like 2x a year lol

[@CHMichael]

Just because you csn get insurance doesn't mean you should build in flood zones. Build on stilts. New construction actually causes flooding for older houses too, not there fault.

[@wenchai5923]

I live 7 miles from the ocean, and I want ocean beach scenery.

[@nickcarey4566]

$700/yr for Zone A is nowhere near accurate. After entering escrow on my home in the Mojave Desert, I was told my NFIP policy would be $2,000/yr for a $250,000 policy. I’ve since gone private and gotten close to $700.

[@robertfleming2432]

Try to go for a re rating which is a procedure that may determine you were mapped into the incorrect flood zone. You may also be able to obtain what is known as an elevation certificate. If there is a 1300 dollar difference between FEMA and private that seems unusual to me. Also very important to check if there are any significant policy difference b/w the FEMA standard flood insurance policy and your private insurer. Its possible your private insurer could have clauses in it that are not as much in your favor than NFIP. Generally private policies are only purchased for ultra high risk properties or to provide coverage in excess of the NFIP limits - they really are a niche market segment at this point in time, you almost always want to get NFIP because its cheaper due to the federal subsidies. If you truly are in an A zone and not a misrated zone though then it probably wont make NFIP cheaper than private

[@pancakes3250]

Make a law, all property in flood zones must be made flood proof. Make current properties flood proof by force. The tenant will lose the property after death, unless they bought it, or payed for it. By force means, no fema payouts if flooded, unless they deal.

[@robertfleming2432]

The existing law requires new properties meet a certain standard of floodplain compliance. There is no such thing as "flood proof" and never will be, especially with AGW going on. Current properties are forced to either sell or elevate through NFIP program mechanisms if they flood too many times. The problem is that the criterion to force people out of the program aren't strong enough. The law will unlikely never be changed - anyone who rams through significant reforms like they tried to do in BW12 will lose florida and the presidency. neither party wants to sign up for that to keep this program sustainable

[@pancakes3250]

@@robertfleming2432 Sorry didnt reply earlier. Update stopped. Anyway you are right. Pipe dreams. Flood it is.

[@KrishnaDasLessons]

3:57 This sums most of the thing up. Plus climate change. We need to fix our urban design real fast. We should stop building houses near or on flood plains, plus eliminate our emissions.

[@FinancialShinanigan]

Time to short insurance stocks like Metlife Travelers AIG Prudential

[@robertfleming2432]

no use, NFIP does all the underwriting on these programs.

[@samuelwilliams7331]

They are smart enough to not write these policies

[@tombomombodombo]

Flood factor doesn't work for Canadian addresses!

[@clubalbert]

That's because they have little to no regulation: they do not offer flood insurance or charge a lot in high risk areas and they get the early warning before the home owners even know about the flood. Furthermore in 0% risk areas flood insurance is very cheap.

[@watomb]

Ya it’s funny 1% of the policy cost 30% of the claims. But if you insure the entire nation then most people never use the insurance. So 1% might be correct. Also they limit the risk to 250k building and 100k inside stuff. The kicker is private flood insurance which covers most of the house cost(million dollar coastal homes). This keeps people from buying a nice house in a high risk area. What I think sucks if they change the map and someone cost shoots way up. Remember most people never file a claim. Yes regions get hit but not everyplace. Also national flood insurance can’t carry a surplus which means it’s on a year to year cost.

[@AllUpOns]

Yeah, it sucks if someone's costs go way up, but that's the point. If you can't afford it, you shouldn't live there any more. The taxpayer shouldn't be subsidizing people's bad building investments.

[@watomb]

@@AllUpOns wondering if it’s private insurance companies that are abusing the system? The underwriter for most private flood insurance is the government. That might be the real problem

[@robertfleming2432]

@@watomb " The underwriter for most private flood insurance is the government." WRONG WRONG WRONG. There is no federal underwriting for non-NFIP private policies. The restrictive NFIP standards and limits are why we are getting private policies in the first place. The Federal NFIP policies are often sold by companies but their role in the NFIP is more as salesmen - they market for the NFIP and handle the claims process. Under the NFIP there is very little incentive for the private companies that do claims administration to screw the policyholder . The WYO carriers are probably the best actors in the entire NFIP system. The rare case was statefarm, which you can read about here. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigsby_sisters

[@watomb]

@@robertfleming2432 ya up to 250k is under written after that it’s on private insurance. Anyways good point

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

And why should people who are smart and don't buy homes near pretty lakes and rivers pay for the morons who do?

[@xhawkeye8717]

Don't live on the coast or near a lake or river. Problem solved.

[@robertfleming2432]

No, not true. Because the flood plain is coming to you via global warming.

[@xhawkeye8717]

@@robertfleming2432 no, not true. I live over a thousand miles inland from either coast line and the gulf. And I do not live near a river or a lake. Again problem solved on my end. 😎

[@robertfleming2432]

@@xhawkeye8717 may be true for some people like in desert areas but for the vast majority NO.

[@xhawkeye8717]

@@robertfleming2432 you make your bed near a body of water like a river that flows into the ocean or near the ocean. I don't feel sorry for those that choose to live there. It's like building a house near an active volcano and then wondering one day why there is lava in the living room? My point is if you live somewhere that deals with regular catastrophe, you have no right to complain about it. If it becomes unbearable to live there where ever there is? Then move.

[@robertfleming2432]

@@xhawkeye8717 Global warming is causing floodplains to shift. There are people that in zones that would not have flooded for thousands of years and they will be in the floodplain shortly - some of the people living there have been living there for generations and moving may not be so simple. Many of the people affected by NFIP can be classed this way, they cannot move due to poverty. Home mortgage may be underwater making it impossible to sell, etc. all of this is going to get worse unfortunately

[@julienrockingham-ip4co]

This is for all the Homeowners and parents to figure out

[@adiposerex5150]

You live in tropics and expect something else?

[@geraldmaxwell3277]

Except most tropical areas do not get hurricane level flooding(because apart from the Caribbean ,Southern India and Central America, the rest of the tropics are not affected significantly by hurricanes. African tropic areas, which are the largest tropical area for example see very few except for Madagascar and Mozambique. Same to most of South America) or tidal flooding(Pacific coral islands are the only exception)

[@shanes6382]

0:55 "If you live somewhere where it rains, you need flood insurance" - says the person trying to sell you insurance.... ever think of a hill?

[@robertfleming2432]

Limited natural hills are available in floodplains. The dirt work to grade and make your own hill is expensive and even more so if you try to elevate existing construction through dirt work. Not a realistic option for the vast majority of people living in a coastal floodplain.

[@shanes6382]

@@robertfleming2432 Yea, hills around the coast doesnt really exist.... doesnt disprove my statement that most homeowners will never experience flood issues... hence not needing it if you "live in a place that rains".... In that case, I got some volcanoe insurance to sell you, cause magma is under all our feet 😆

[@velvetbear7184]

It’s because the billions the insurance companies collect are being invested making them more billions, then when a flood happens these companies can’t just get all the money all at once.. simple

[@robertfleming2432]

totally false information as 90%+ of flood policies in the US are federally backed and paid out promptly.

[@SlackerU]

NFIP is a great idea but the enforcement of the rules inside local governments is non-existent to the point of being corrupt.

[@maggiejetson7904]

Insurance only move numbers around. What needs to happen is a redevelopment that is designed to tolerate higher water level and stronger more frequent hurricanes.

[@robertfleming2432]

The NFIP program, while flawed, encourages and supports the actions you mentioned. To have access to the program the NFIP often requires local government and communities to elevate, join a floodplain management scheme, etc. The NFIP acts as a carrot and the stick to get people to lower risk. Its insanely flawed but it at least does some good in this regard

[@incyphe]

10:14 why is this even allowed? Look absurd it looks.

[@robertfleming2432]

Do you mean that the home is on stilts? Or that people are finishing in the stilt area? I can answer you as to why. In the case of why homes are built on stilts, its because its an effective measure to prevent flooding. It works and unless you're seeing insane levels of storm surge the home will not flood out. The downside is this will raise the cost of building but if you're building a home to last it will work As for people who finish the stilted in area, this is allowed but NFIP will not cover it. Some people finish their stilt area to differing degrees, personally i don't see the problem with finishing it with just windproof glass panes or something like mosquito net. But once you get into expensive builds in the enclosure area you're kinda stupid

[@dirtycommie2877]

3:05 I'm shocked that my home state of Maryland is not on the top 10 list.

[@robertfleming2432]

western MD/montgomery county/PG all of that is not really flood prone that is what is lowering the number. Half the state lives in these areas

[@michaelcrockis7679]

I've read something like that in Diamond's book 'Collapse'. People settle on more and more marginal territories and then boom, unusually devastating natural disaster happens and the whole society is in ruins.

[@robertfleming2432]

yep and now they get a govt subsidy to do it. GO FIGURE

[@Lzrdman91]

I live in Arizona. What water. Lol. We’re just super hot

[@grendelcandy8760]

how can you by a home without knowing the flood risk? other than common sense . . i.e. ground floor of house is higher than the crown of the nearest road. Here in Britain before you buy a house the solicitor has by law , got to list all local advisories, along with the title search. Before a property is built on a flood plain, the local water board/ environment agency advises the construction company, up to and including whether a building should be built.

[@robertfleming2432]

All of what you mentioned here has to happen in the US. The main issue is that many of these homes were built way back before all of these agencies were in place. Some of these homes are like, pre 1900. And because of the shifting climate baseline the flooding risk is changing. Its hard for the average citizen (i often call them cattle/sheep) to perceive the increasing levels of risk

[@grendelcandy8760]

​@@robertfleming2432 makes sense . .

[@dirtycommie2877]

As someone who's worked in Emergency Management since 2017, I can tell you for a fact that Flood Insurance is extremely expensive and unaffordable for most homeowners who need it. FEMA is the de facto Flood Insurance for the U.S.

[@todaystomorrow2545]

I am in an AE zone but not near any water. I own a small home. My insurance company told me $10k a year. I’m going to have to move now!

[@131313griffin]

The rich and well off want to build mansions or residences on the waterfront, on beaches, rivers ,traditional flood plains and someone has to pay for this .We all do with higher premiums not just them as the insurance companies are for profit.If they made the ones on the water pay the true cost ,yes it is high now and would be really high, but why should we all help them.

[@Food4thought1234]

Why don’t they just make water proof homes? Yeah may be a little higher upfront. But seems like it would be worth it in the long term.

[@robertfleming2432]

There is no such thing as a water proof home. You can elevate which is effective but its very costly and in the long run even that won't be enough to stop the worst from happening

[@Maverickgouda]

There’s a place maybe a couple hundred yards from a river, think it’s cheap property since it’s flood-prone & I always believed in the house the first floor might be resistant or a garage with a facade. There are a lot built on mounds to elevate houses around central, Baker, & Zachary, la since the big flood a few years ago, but other than that I see little effort build more resilient houses. Saw one on stilts so high, Itd likely have me running from every storm

[@Food4thought1234]

@@robertfleming2432 True. You would just think this day and age it wouldn't be that hard. I guess you could never get the water smell/mold out even if was water proof.

[@robertfleming2432]

@@Food4thought1234 actually smell/mold management is very easy. As long as remediation is done within a reasonable amount of time mold is not an issue in all but the most severe of floods. Standard practice - cut your drywall to 4 feet or to 8 feet if the flood waters went above around 3 feet. A key part of being an NFIP policyholder is doing mitigation to the property ASAP - there are clauses in the policy that demand rapid mitigation by the policyholder. Here are some tips to make your home more water resistant, keeping in mind being totally flood proof is not possible: 1. Opt for tile flooring instead of wood/carpet in a flood zone. Tile flooring will survive most flooding as long as there is no severe velocity flow/objects being knocked around the room and cracking it. The same does not apply to tile walls as the flood will ruin the backerboard. 2. as another user posted here said in the past, having brick interior walls. This gets rid of the need of having to replace drywall which is costly. Having solid exterior siding instead of things like wood paneling can also reduce the cost of rebuild. 3. Elevate on new builds or on an existing build if financially feasible.