Why Some Flood Plain Homeowners Don’t Have Insurance

68-year old Nancy Robinson Looks at Flood Damage

With floodwaters mostly receded in the mid-state, the process of rebuilding and replacing is underway. But it won’t be easy. Insurance agents say they’re giving out bad news because so many homeowners did not have flood insurance.

68-year old Gallatin resident Nancy Robinson has lived in the modest Hollywood Hills neighborhood for 41 years. In her living room, she leans on her cane and watches as volunteers tear out damp drywall.

Robinson doesn’t have flood insurance even though she lives in a flood plain. That’s because her house is paid for. Banks that finance homes in a flood prone area typically require flood protection. Robinson says she tried to get flood insurance from her agent, but it was too expensive.

“They said I’d have get it separate and buy it somewhere else, for flood insurance. But I can’t afford that. Theirs is over 200 every three months…for house and car. There’s no telling how much that flood would be.”

Robinson says she plans on applying for federal disaster assistance. Until she gets it, she’s relying on volunteers, family members and neighbors for help.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency maintains a current list of counties eligibile for FEMA aid. If you live in an eligible county, The first step to get help is registering with FEMA online or at 1-800-621-FEMA.