Here is a link to Floodsmart.gov if you think you would like to investigate the National Flood Insurance program.
You can plug in your address in and find out your potential risk level and estimated costs.
You can get it as a homeowner, a renter or as a business owner.
There is a 30 day waiting period.
Only certain agents sell the insurance which you can locate at the site.
(I have nothing to do with the insurance industry, in case you are wondering)
I am always amazed at the number of people who don't have flood insurance or who have a lot of misconceptions about the program like:
You have to be in a flood plain in order to get it - no, you don't.
The only reason you wouldn't be able to get it if you wanted it, is if your city or town opted out of participating, and I'm not sure why a town would do that, but some have.
Flooding is not always about the ocean, or streams or rivers - sometimes it is about rainfall and runoff and flash flooding - standing water that has no place to go but inside your house.
There are great videos and good explanations on this site.
Flood insurance helps me sleep a little better at night, knowing that of the worst happened and I lost my house in a hurricane or flood, at least I would have a prayer of rebuilding.
If you don't have flood insurance, what happens is that FEMA offers low interest loans to homeowners. Business owners have to go through a loan program administered by the Small Business Administration in a partnership with FEMA - it's a lot more red tape than simple insurance; I know, I have a friend going through the process right now.
I have only ever been a policy owner and not (knock wood) a policy user. If anyone has actually used the program, I would be interested in knowing how well it worked.