Weekly Roundup: Florida Families Are In The Dark About The True Flood Risks Facing Their Homes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2025
Contact: contact@insurancefairnessproject.com
Weekly Roundup: Florida Families Are In The Dark About The True Flood Risks Facing Their Homes
Each week, the Insurance Fairness Project highlights the latest developments in the national climate-driven property insurance crisis. For more insurance updates, follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and Bluesky.
1/ HOME INSURANCE IS DRIVING THE RISING COST OF HOMEOWNERSHIP IS THE U.S.: Climate change is directly impacting the insurance market, driving up prices across the country, and prompting some companies to withdraw coverage for numerous clients. The increase in insurance costs presents a significant challenge for homeowners, leading to financial strain for many.
Forbes: Hidden Costs Of Homeownership Reach Almost $16,000 A Year
The second hidden cost is homeowner’s insurance, and according to Zillow estimates, since 2019, home insurance premiums have risen 38%. However, in some areas, like Miami, insurance premiums have risen 57%. Sacramento has the second-highest rate increase among major metro areas (54%). Other large cities where home insurance premiums have increased far above the national average include Jacksonville, Florida (51%), Orlando (49%), and Richmond (48%).
NPR: Why home insurance is unaffordable, even in places without wildfires or hurricanes
2/ HIDDEN FLOOD RISK PUTS MILLIONS AT RISK: The Wall Street Journal reports on data from First Street showing that millions of U.S. homeowners are living with high flood risk that isn’t reflected on FEMA’s official maps. Meanwhile, the Miami Herald exposes a long-running effort by powerful real estate interests and local officials to keep critical flood data out of public view, leaving Florida families in the dark about the true risks facing their homes.
Wall Street Journal: It’s Getting Harder to Figure Out Whether You Live in a Flood Zone or Not
Data provider First Street estimates that around eight million properties lie in areas the Federal Emergency Management Agency designates as flood zones, with a 1% or higher chance of flooding every year. The firm found another nearly 13 million properties outside the zones with the same level of flood risk.
Miami Herald: ‘Street is lake, urgent!’ Herald mapping reveals blind spots
Nearly a decade of records examined by the Miami Herald show flooding is far more widespread than previously known across South Florida, revealing clusters of complaints in areas that federal flood insurance zones classify as at little to no risk of flooding. The record points to problem areas that are largely untracked and unknown, except to the residents who must deal with it.
Our take: “Homeowners deserve to know the truth about where it floods. Instead, powerful real estate interests and short-sighted local officials have worked to bury the data leaving families paying the price when the waters rise.” – Lizzy Price, spokesperson for the Insurance Fairness Project
3/ NEW DATA IN IOWA SHOWS INSURANCE CRISIS SPREADING TO HEARTLAND: News out of Iowa underscores that the home insurance crisis is national in scope, not just relegated to coastal hotspots. Iowa experts are urging a shift to more renewable energy sources and updated building standards.
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Iowa scientists: climate change driving up cost of insurance
The Gazette: Experts warn climate change could lead to higher insurance costs for Iowans
“When those temperature changes lead to the types of extreme events and damages that we have seen more of in recent years, that plays out in increased costs, which then show up as higher insurance rates,” Gutowski said.
4/ NEW POLICY BRIEF OUTLINES STRATEGIES TO TACKLE INSURANCE GAPS: A recent policy briefing from the World Wildlife Fund outlines strategies for addressing growing insurance challenges. The stability of the economy and financial markets face threats from the combined impact of more frequent extreme weather events and protection gaps.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): TACKLING THE INSURANCE PROTECTION GAP
WWF urges public authorities and policymakers to tackle the insurance protection gap strategically… They should:
>> Undertake a holistic and forward-looking risk and resilience assessment
>> Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
>> Make nature and nature-based solutions (NbS)
>> Enhance policy incentives and insurance regulation
5/ LOS ANGELES OFFICIALS LAUNCH INVESTIGATION INTO STATE FARM: The L.A. County Board of Supervisors and County Counsel have launched a civil investigation into State Farm's handling of 2025 L.A. Wildfire claims. The inquiry focuses on claim delays and denials, "rotating adjuster tactics," coverage misrepresentations, smoke damage payments, failure to disclose estimates/inspection results, and the use of AI in claim review.
Los Angeles Times: L.A. County opens probe into State Farm’s handling of January wildfire claims
Statement from Consumer Watchdog: “Many wildfire survivors have been waiting for nearly a year for help that hasn’t come. We’ve received voluminous complaints from consumers that their insurers—including State Farm—have delayed, tried to underpay, or outright denied their claims. The County’s investigation finally gives fire victims a chance at real accountability and relief.” – Carmen Balber, Executive Director at Consumer Watchdog
Resources
Insurance Fairness Project: Polling – Voters Want Their Government to Address the Property Insurance Crisis
Public Citizen and the Revolving Door Project: Mapping the Home Insurance Crisis
Consumer Federation of America: Overburdened: The Dramatic Increase in Homeowners Insurance Premiums and its Impacts on American Homeowners
Brookings Institution: Homeowners insurance in an era of climate change
Consumer Federation of America and Climate and Community Institute: Penalized: The Hidden Cost of Credit Score in Homeowners Insurance Premiums
Americans for Financial Reform and Public Citizen: Rising Property Insurance Premiums: The Uneven Risks to Household and Systemic Financial Stability
Climate and Community Institute (CCI): Insurers of Last Resort: Why Today’s FAIR Plans Need a Redesign to Address the Home Insurance Crisis
Center for Climate Integrity: How Big Oil is Fueling the Insurance Crisis And Why State Policymakers Should Act
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The Insurance Fairness Project is an information hub dedicated to offering insights into the home insurance crisis, exploring its drivers and highlighting solutions alongside issue experts and community advocates.
