Hurricane season is a week away and it's also the time to make sure you are covered with insurance in case a storm hits.

  • Most property insurance does not include flood insurance
  • Flood insurance, in most cases, takes 30 days to go into effect

Luda Haustova remembers a rough hurricane about 11 years ago. 

"It was really strong, rain, strong wind, the chairs were flying into people's backyards, it was really kind of dangerous," said Haustova. 

Haustova lives 250 yards away from the water in Flagler County's Hammock area.

"The closer to the water we live, more chances we have to get floods," said Haustova. 

That's one reason she said she has flood insurance. 

“People just buy flood insurance and sleep in peace, because I had a situation in my life when I didn't have a certain kind of insurance for my business and we actually lost all the equipment. Since then I can tell you I always protect myself," said Haustova. 

LeighAnn Koch, owner of Koch Insurance Company in Palm Coast, said many of her clients went through a similar experience and didn’t have flood insurance. Now they do.

"It is so much more affordable than going through a loss and having to rebuild from the ground up," said Koch. 

She said if you're planning to get it -- now would be the time 

"It would take 30 days to begin that coverage," said Koch. 

The 30 days is still the waiting period, even if a storm is on the way.

Koch said premiums are fairly cheap -- roughly a little more than $100, up to $500 a year. She said the only exception to the 30-day waiting period is if you are a homeowner who has recently closed on a home and the lender requires the insurance right away.

Haustova said it's a cost she doesn't mind paying for peace of mind if the water makes an unwelcome visit to her home.

"You want to make sure your property is protected and just don't worry about if something happened, you're covered," said Haustova. 

The county is also in the process of releasing new flood zone maps.