Arkly Insurance

Yesterday was a good reminder of just how quickly Florida weather can change. 🌩️

Just hours earlier, there was nothing on the radar forecast for that hour.

More structural elevation jobs are coming to Tampa Bay! 🥳

Did you know your flood policy might owe you money you've never claimed? 😧 We found 3 lesser-known NFIP benefits — sandbagging, safe relocation, and debris cleanup — that many homeowners don't realize they're covered for. 🙆🏻

Plus one big question about why FEMA rewards the attempt to protect your home, but not whether it actually worked.

If you have an NFIP policy sitting in a drawer somewhere, this is worth 5 minutes before the next storm. 💙

3 Special Benefits (And 1 Big Question) Hidden in Your NFIP Policy Your NFIP policy covers more than storm damage. We break down the coverage homeowners miss, and why FEMA rewards floodproofing attempts, not results.

🌊 Zone X is NOT Zero Risk! ⚠️

👉 If your FEMA flood zone is "X", you are outside the highest-risk areas, but you still need to know one crucial detail: Is your X shaded or unshaded? 🤔 The difference is your level of exposure.

🟠 Zone X (Shaded): The Moderate Risk. (Formerly Zone B)

- Your property is in the area between the 1% annual chance and the 0.2% annual chance floodplain
- You have a 1-in-500 chance of flooding in any given year

⚪ Zone X (Unshaded): The Minimal Risk. (Formerly Zone C)

- Your property is outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.
- You're considered the safest, but flooding is never zero risk due to poor drainage or extreme heavy rainfall.

💡 Why care if I am in a low-risk zone?

A single inch of water can cause over $25,000 in damage. This cost will not be covered by your standard homeowners policy.

👉 Get the best quote from over 30 carriers on arkly.com

🌊 What is the difference between Flood Zone V and VE? 🤔

👉 If your flood zone starts with "V", you are in the Coastal High Hazard Area—the most dangerous zone. You face not just rising water, but destructive waves and high-velocity surge. Sometimes coastal areas can be also marked as Zone V, VO, VE or V1-30.

Zone V means: Velocity risk, but the exact flood Elevation is unknown and is only approximate

Zone VE means: Velocity risk, and the exact flood Elevation is determined

💡 Why to care about BFE in this case?

- Helps decide how high your home should be built or raised
- Affects your flood insurance cost
- Helps to understand at what level should the utilities be to ensure the home is functional after a flood

👉 Find out what BFE your community requires you to meet at arkly.com

We put together a simple, no-jargon guide that walks you through exactly what flood zones actually mean, why homeowner's insurance doesn't cover flooding, and what every Florida homeowner should actually know about flood risk. 🏡

https://hightide.ai/featured-content/flood-literacy-101/

Flood Risk 101: What Every Florida Homeowner Needs to Know A Florida homeowner's guide to flood literacy: flood risk, flood insurance, and how to prepare your home, explained without the jargon.

🌊 What is the difference between Flood Zone A and V?

👉 Flood Zone V (Velocity Zone) and Flood Zone A are both high-risk flood zones. This means they both have a minimum of 1% of flooding in any given year, also called the “100-year flood”. But they differ by the type of flood hazard and the required building standards.

Zone A:

- Flooding comes from rising waters (like rivers, streams, or heavy rain)
- The areas affected by the height of the water

Zone V:

- Flooding comes from coastal waves and fast-moving water
- Found only in coastal and Great Lakes areas
- The areas affected by both the height and force of the water

💡Why does it matter to know the difference?

The difference between an A and a V zone can mean thousands of dollars in construction costs and major differences in your flood insurance premium. Know your risk to plan a resilient living.

👉 Do you know your flood zone? Find it on arkly.com