Hurricane Helene highlights the need to expand US flood insurance coverage

The past week has seen widespread devastation in the southeastern United States following Hurricane Helene. The effects of the hurricane, which damaged communities hundreds of miles inland, will likely be made worse by many residents’ lack of flood insurance coverage, especially for those who lived outside of official flood zones. Rebecca Elliott writes that flood insurance is available to all Americans who want it through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), but cost, perceptions of safety and whether it is required, and confusion over how insurance is sold and by who, have all combined to prevent many from having flood insurance.