No “Ifs,” “Ands” or “Buts”

Surprises are a lot like flipping a coin, in that about half the time you don't get the outcome you're expecting. Surprise parties, for example, are a good surprise, but when a river floods, and your homeowners or renters policy doesn't cover flooding, it quickly becomes an unwanted surprise that your clients would probably love to avoid.

FEMA and its National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) want to take the surprise out of flooding, since reminding your clients that flooding happens everywhere can be difficult. Your clients may have numerous ways to refute the need to buy a flood insurance policy. Flooding will continue to happen, there's no "ifs," "ands" or "buts" about it. To support insurance agents, here are three easy responses to address common excuses your clients may have about buying flood insurance.

"If It Even Floods…"

• Anywhere it can rain it can flood, and even just inches of flooding can cause thousands of dollars in repair costs. Flooding is expensive, so when it does flood, your clients would much rather have insurance support to rebuild quickly and easily.

"And What If It Doesn't Flood…"

• People pack extra underwear and socks when they go on vacation. Buildings have fire extinguishers ready and inspected 365 days a year. Buying flood insurance is the same concept. Nobody wants to need to use it, but everybody is glad to have it when the worst-case scenario hits.

"But I'm Safe from Flooding…"

• First and foremost, nobody is entirely safe from flooding. Americans across the Midwest may not realize that hurricanes are only one part of flood risk. In fact, the NFIP was inspired in part by mid-twentieth century Mississippi river flooding that displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Going without flood insurance isn't the safe choice; protecting the life you've built with flood insurance is.

Keeping your clients informed is a full-time effort, and the NFIP is here to help. For resources, trainings, infographics and more follow the NFIP on LinkedIn and register for our email outreach.