LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Recent flooding in Kentucky and southern Indiana has left homeowners cleaning up muddy basements and business owners hustling to dry out and reopen.
The persistent rain that hit the area earlier this month wasn't typical, but flooding along the Ohio River is no anomaly. Still, fewer than 1% of people in Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee have flood insurance. Many people think they're covered but quickly find out they're not, and it's going to cost them.
Trevor Burgess, the CEO of Neptune Flood, a private insurance firm that has researched flood-prone areas, including Kentuckiana, said most people think flooding is covered in their homeowners insurance.
"A lot of that is just because of confusion," Burgess said Monday. "When flooding happens, just even a couple of inches of water in your house can be extremely expensive. Tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage can take place."
Some people around Kentucky and southern Indiana got several feet of water in their homes. If you live in an area designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a designated high-risk flood zone — pretty much anywhere along a river or creek — and have a federally backed mortgage, you're required to buy flood insurance.
President Donald Trump announced an emergency declaration for Kentucky amid the rounds of rain, allowing FEMA to identify, mobilize and provide equipment and resources to support state and local efforts in response and recovery. FEMA is also working with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to leverage their resources.
This map from FEMA shows the high-risk areas, and Burgess said a flood policy in those areas could cost thousands of dollars per year.
"If you've recently been impacted by a storm, keep track of your expenses," he said. "There are programs through FEMA that you can get reimbursed for some small amounts, so pay attention to that. If you have flood insurance, be sure to file a claim. Work with the adjuster, and you'll get reimbursed."
A study from Neptune Flood found 95% of damaged homes in the 2022 floods in eastern Kentucky were uninsured. And the National Flood Insurance Program policies fell by 17% between 2021-24.
"With so few insured, it's going to be, unfortunately, a lot of heartache until we can help turn that around," Burgess said.
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