Alternative to the Delaware FAIR Plan
We can help you find alternatives to the FAIR Plan in Delaware.
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Alternatives to the Delaware FAIR Plan
Delaware is a coastal state in the mid-Atlantic, which makes it prone to many natural disasters. Additionally, the state is far enough north that it not only experiences extreme weather in the spring and summer but in the winter as well.
Hurricanes tend to pose a significant threat at the move up the east coast. Even though hurricanes tend not to make landfall in Delaware, the powerful storms could still cause widespread destruction in the area. That’s because hurricanes bring storm surges with them, which can wash over beaches and river banks.
Although a hurricane has not made landfall in Delaware recently, scientists believe that it’s only a matter of time before this is the case. If a storm were to do so, widespread destruction would be imminent.
Delaware is the lowest-lying state in the nation. Except for the Piedmont region, the entire state exists within a coastal watershed.
As developers begin to build more in Delaware, they could be exposing themselves to future natural disaster risks. For instance, the Delaware Geological Survey storm surge mapping tool shows that
flooding would completely overtake a new redevelopment project in the Fort DuPont area of New Castle County.
Furthermore, a storm surge of a mere three feet would swallow up the 70 high-end luxury homes that developers recently built in the Little Assawoman Bay area.
It appears that more and more developers are building in low-lying areas of the state without much regard to hurricanes or coastal flooding. Part of the reason for this is that local governments in these
areas allow for higher densities of development than in other areas. Researchers already predict that people who live in these areas are on a “collision course with disaster,” especially as sea levels continue
to rise.
The Delaware FAIR Plan began operating in 1968 to help insure those who cannot otherwise find coverage on the voluntary insurance market. However, no state funds go into this plan. Instead, it is organized by an association of the property insurance companies that exist in Delaware.
If you live in a home that insurers have deemed high-risk, you may feel that the Delaware FAIR Plan is your only option for coverage. However, it would be in your best interest to look into alternatives on the private market as FAIR Plans may not have all of the options you'd like to have. Doing so can help keep rates more affordable while providing you with the coverage you need to protect yourself from Delaware’s volatile weather patterns.
Unable to Obtain Coverage?
Many consumers opt to allow their mortgage companies to add “force-placed" or “lender-placed" coverage to their homes. Unfortunately, mortgage companies often fail to clearly state that these policies typically do not cover personal property, loss of use, or liability. They are typically insurance policies that the consumer pays for, but they mostly benefit a bank rather than the consumer. Mortgage-forced policies are the least safe option in the market.
Since FAIR Plans are considered the market of last resort, Delaware consumers will be best served when they find an agent with experience in high-risk insurance as well as the right resources and carriers. Ultimately the end goal is to obtain the right coverage at a competitive price and with the right agent; that can be accomplished in almost any situation.