How Much Is Flood Insurance in Arkansas? Average Flood Insurance Cost and Coverage

Flood damages aren’t covered in a standard homeowners or renters insurance policy. A separate flood insurance policy must be purchased. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a new rating methodology that evaluates a list of determining factors, including your distance to flooding sources, ground elevation, the age and structure of your building and your preferred coverage type.

Since it has multiple high-risk flood zones, flood insurance costs in Arkansas are higher than the national average. Flood damages can easily cost around $25,000 per inch of water, so getting insured is recommended.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Cost of Flood Insurance in Arkansas
• Flood Insurance Companies in Arkansas
• Flood Insurance Coverage
• Flood Insurance Cost Factors in Arkansas
• Do You Need Flood Insurance?
• Arkansas Flood Insurance FAQs

The average cost of flood insurance in Arkansas is $976 per year. This amount is calculated based on your property’s location and proximity to a flood zone as well as your individual property risk, so your rates may differ. Residents within moderate-risk or high-risk flood zones are typically charged higher monthly premiums than those in low-risk zones.

Arkansas experiences more floods than most states, resulting in higher flood insurance costs than the national average. Alternatively, some counties in Arkansas experience more flooding than others, resulting in rate differences.

Flood insurance in Greene County is the cheapest at roughly $487 annually, while flood insurance in Scott County is the most expensive at around $3,545 annually. The cost of insurance per county in Arkansas is detailed below.

Flood insurance in Arkansas can either be purchased from the NFIP or from a private insurance company. The NFIP offers a base policy, while private companies offer excess policies, which include supplemental coverage on top of your base policy. If your household is not in an NFIP community or requires more coverage, a private company is a better option.

The NFIP also has partnered with insurance companies to provide flood insurance in Arkansas. Here’s a list of NFIP-participating insurance providers and their contact information.

There are no special requirements to get flood insurance in Arkansas. Simply call the NFIP Hotline at 877-336-2627. You may also call your home insurance agent to inquire about additional flood coverage or search for another provider.

You’ll want to plan ahead since flood insurance has a waiting period before coverage goes into effect. The NFIP has a 30-day waiting period, while most private insurers have a 10-day waiting period.

An inch of water entering your home can cause around $25,000 worth of damage. Getting flood insurance means insuring your home to protect the building structure and its contents.

In your standard flood insurance, swimming pools, decks, patios, landscaping, basement items, cash and paperwork are not covered. Alternatively, vehicle flooding is protected under your comprehensive auto insurance policy.

Your flood insurance’s building coverage pays damages to the physical structure of your home.

Through the NFIP, you can purchase up to $250,000 worth of coverage for the following:

• Foundation walls
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• Furnaces, central heating and air conditioning
• Built-in appliances
• Permanent carpets
• Built-in furniture

Your flood insurance’s content coverage pays for damages to or replaces your personal belongings. You can purchase up to $100,000 worth of content coverage from the NFIP to cover the following:

• Clothing
• Furniture
• Electronic equipment
• Washers and dryers
• Artwork

Before October 2021, FEMA determined a property’s flood risk by looking at the location of your property and its proximity to flood zones. You can use FEMA's website to evaluate the historical flood risk in your state.

Woodruff has the highest number of flood events (180), whereas Lee County sees the fewest (18). The cost of insurance in Woodruff County, which is around $889 per year, is almost similar to Lee’s at roughly $888 per year. While Woodruff County has the most floods in Arkansas, it’s not the most expensive county. This is because county size could impact rates.

Risk Rating 2.0 is a newer rating system that took effect in October 2021. In addition to location, which still heavily influences the cost, individual factors like your property’s foundation type, dwelling structure, elevation, elevation and repair cost are now considered when calculating your premiums.

The following are the most notable factors that affect your flood insurance premiums.

Your standard homeowners or renters insurance does not offer protection against damages from floods, which is why you need to get separate coverage. This is especially true when you’re in an area at risk for flooding. Even if you’re in low-risk areas, additional flood insurance coverage is still a good precautionary measure.

You can submit flood insurance claims even without a presidential disaster declaration. Although there may be federal disaster assistance, its $5,000 cap may not be enough to cover all the damages.

Getting an extra level of protection for your home ensures peace of mind.

MoneyGeek answered the following frequently asked questions about flood insurance in Arkansas.