How Much Is Flood Insurance in West Virginia? Average Flood Insurance Cost and Coverage

Flood insurance is typically not covered by renters or homeowners insurance. The flood insurance cost in West Virginia is impacted by both county-level and personal risk variables — for example, property design and flooding frequency.

Floods in West Virginia have cost the state millions of dollars in damages and have had a long-term negative impact on local communities. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), even one inch of water could cause up to $25,000 in damages. You should consider buying flood insurance to protect yourself from the rising expenses of flood-related damage, even if your home is in a low-risk zone.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Since it has so many places that are susceptible to flooding, the average yearly cost of flood insurance in West Virginia is $1,344. Considering your proximity to a floodplain and specific property risks, rates may vary significantly. Insurers frequently charge a higher premium to people who live in flood-prone areas.

West Virginia has more flood zones and/or a higher risk of flooding, which may be why its average flood insurance rates are more expensive than the national average.

Preston County has the highest average annual premium at $3,214, while Harnett County has the lowest cost at around $475. The average cost of flood insurance in West Virginia for each county is shown in the table below.

Although the NFIP is a popular option for getting flood insurance, you can also purchase it from a private insurance provider. They frequently offer a base policy, similar to the NFIP, and an excess policy — supplemental coverage for a base policy.

If West Virginians believe their coverage under the NFIP is insufficient or they do not live in an NFIP community, they should get in touch with a private flood insurance provider.

NFIP partner insurance providers in West Virginia can also provide flood insurance. MoneyGeek provides a list of insurance providers that are associated with the NFIP below, along with contact information.

In West Virginia, buying flood insurance is simple because there are no requirements. You may connect with your insurance agent or the NFIP helpline at 877-336-2627. You can also reach out to a private insurance company.

MoneyGeek advises buying flood insurance as soon as you can because the NFIP has a 30-day waiting period. Meanwhile, West Virginia's private insurance companies have the right to impose waiting periods of 10 days or more, so you may want to speak with your insurance representative to confirm.

Your building and its contents are covered by flood insurance in West Virginia. Remember, a single inch of water inside your home might result in $25,000 in damage, making flood insurance an important thing to have, regardless of flood risk.

Only building structures and personal items are covered by flood insurance in West Virginia. The basement is unprotected, as are any pools, decks, patios, landscaping, cash and paperwork and vehicles. To protect your car, add comprehensive insurance to your auto policy.

Among the features of a typical flood insurance policy in West Virginia is building coverage. That covers damages to your home's real structure, including the following:

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

West Virginians can purchase up to $250,000 in building coverage through the NFIP.

Your personal things will be repaired or replaced under contents coverage in a flood insurance policy. Some of the belongings that flood insurance usually covers are:

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

An NFIP policy can include up to $100,000 for contents coverage.

The cost of flood insurance before October 2021 was based on geographic variables and the flood map. You can view the historical flood map of West Virginia via FEMA.

Kanawha County in West Virginia has suffered more floods than any other county, with 113 flood occurrences. Summers County has had the fewest incidents, with only 26. Kanawha County and Summers County cost around $1,376 and $867 annually, respectively, for flood insurance.

Even though Kanawha County has experienced the most floods in West Virginia, the cost of flood insurance there is not the highest in the state. That could be because of a larger area where flooding events are more spaced out.

FEMA launched Risk Rating 2.0, a new flood risk rating methodology, in October 2021. In addition to mapping flood zones, this approach looks at particular property factors, such as the building's foundation, construction, elevation and replacement and repair costs.

Risk Rating 2.0 offers a premium assessment that is more complex than the previous method. And the cost of your West Virginia flood insurance is still greatly influenced by where you live. Below is a breakdown of some of the factors that influence flood insurance rates in West Virginia.

Typically, renters or homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage — and flood insurance has lots of benefits in West Virginia. Even if a presidential disaster declaration is not made, providers must pay a claim if your home gets flooded from a natural weather event. You’ll also receive more compensation than you would from the federal government in a disaster.

Flood damage is much more expensive than the standard $5,000 household grant amount offered by the federal government for disaster relief. Residents of high-risk flood zones who have mortgages must get flood insurance. Whether you live in a low- or moderate-risk area, all properties are susceptible to flooding, and flood insurance can give you assurance and security.

West Virginia flood insurance may be challenging to comprehend. To assist you in understanding the basics, MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions.