Flood Awareness Week: Insurance Agents Can Benefit Too!
Flood Awareness Week: Insurance Agents Can Benefit Too!
As flood risk has grown, so too have state-sponsored programs seeking to mitigate it. Most U.S. states and territories have designated one or more weeks annually to focus public attention on flooding and its dangers—and to encourage flood prevention and recovery. For insurance agents, these educational initiatives are valuable in raising public awareness—and an opportunity to engage prospective customers. For one, the audience for states’ flood-awareness efforts are homeowners, renters and business owners people who could benefit from flood insurance. Savvy agents are exploring flood-awareness activities in their states and using FEMA resources to reach prospective customers and ensure that their communities are protected.
The names of each state’s “flood week” may vary, but their goals are consistent. From New York to California, Hawaii to Puerto Rico, states and territories are pouring resources into flood education. Through public outreach and knowledge-building, states are raising awareness of flooding risk and encouraging residents to take actions to protect homes, businesses, personal property and families.
States are investing in flood-related education programs at a time when severe weather events have become more numerous, more frequent, and more damaging. In the context of those trends, funds used to mitigate and recover from flood damage, principally flood insurance, are a solid investment. The payoff includes smaller losses from flooding and greater recovery from those losses.
Residents in every state are vulnerable to flooding and flood damage. Last spring, New York’s Flood Safety Awareness Week sought to educate residents about flooding, its dangers, emergency preparation, and what steps to take when there's a flood. According to Governor Kathy Hochul, "Flooding is the top weather-related threat New Yorkers face, and Flood Safety Awareness Week is a great opportunity to learn what to do before, during and after a flood event".
On the West Coast, the annual California Flood Preparedness Week will mark its thirteenth year this fall. California seeks to educate residents about the types of flooding that impact communities, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Activities include interactive demonstrations and exhibits, preparedness tips and tools delivered through social media and public outreach events.
Other states with annual flood awareness and prevention weeks include Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Virginia.
Check your state’s site to familiarize yourself with sponsored weather safety events, including flood weeks. You’re also invited to access NFIP resources to support client outreach and help protect their communities.
