They take some of their life’s savings and buy a home, no matter how humble it may be, but it is their piece of paradise. Then a disaster like Hurricane Ian strikes and everything they planned for, saved for, is gone. If the home was paid for they may not even have homeowners insurance. If they don’t have that, they certainly don’t have flood insurance.
For storm surge you need the flood insurance in order to have coverage. If you live inland and in an area that doesn’t drain well and your home floods, outside of the flood zone, you still need flood insurance.
It is wind damage that the normal homeowners insurance will cover. Sometimes it becomes an issue on what an insurance policy will cover. Was the damage caused by flooding or wind?
Faced with the above circumstances, and the age of the people impacted, they will try to rebuild or they will have to reassess their situation and move in with relatives.
This New York Times article, “‘Our Bubble Has Been Burst’: Older Storm Victims Face an Uncertain Future,” lays out the situation of many.
