Wealthy College Grads Buy Most Flood Insurance

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, few consumers continue to buy flood insurance for their homes, and those who purchased new or excess limit policies were affluent and better educated, according to a survey.

The poll of homeowners, commissioned by Warren, N.J.-based Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, found that only 14 percent of Americans say they have purchased flood insurance for their primary residence.

Princeton, N.J.-based Opinion Research Corporation conducted the survey, contacting 700 homeowners nationally. Of the 101 homeowners who said they have flood insurance, eight said they purchased it following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. The 8 percent were described as affluent, college graduates.

Ninety-one percent of the 101 homeowners said they already had flood insurance and did not purchase more coverage following the hurricane season.

“Chubb's survey clearly shows that, other than some better educated individuals with higher incomes, many Americans are risk takers when it comes to protecting their homes, valuables and financial well-being from flood damage,” said Eric Pruss, senior vice president of Chubb & Son and strategic marketing officer for Chubb Personal Insurance.

“However, this is a risk that few people can afford to ignore, especially in light of seeing the potential for devastation,” Mr. Pruss commented.

Among those surveyed who said their homes were flooded, 34 percent reported carpeting or wood floors were destroyed. Nineteen percent who suffered flooding said the water destroyed sentimental items; 15 percent said flooding destroyed furniture; 12 percent said personal papers and information were destroyed; and 4 percent said art or collectibles were ruined.

The reasons for buying flood insurance varied among those surveyed. Of the buyers:

o 28 percent said that while their house is not near a body of water, they are taking no chances.

o 27 percent said their mortgage lender required it.

o 24 percent said their house is near a body of water.

o 20 percent said their insurance agent or broker recommended it.

Among those who purchased a flood insurance policy, 25 percent purchased an excess flood insurance policy from a private insurer. The excess policy provides higher home and contents limits beyond the National Flood Insurance Program. NFIP's maximum home limit is $250,000 and contents limit is $100,000.

The buyers of excess coverage primarily had higher levels of income and education, and lived in metropolitan areas.

Respondents were asked about what the government's involvement should be in rebuilding flood damaged homes.

o Thirty-one percent agreed that the federal government should aid those whose homes were destroyed by flooding and who did not purchase flood insurance.

o Sixty-eight percent said state and local governments should impose restrictions on coastal area building.

o Fifty-nine percent of those asked said they did not think it made sense to rebuild a city that is below sea level after flood damage.

The question did not specifically address the rebuilding of New Orleans, which is below sea level, a Chubb company spokesman said.