Scientific American
A patchwork of state laws can leave some home buyers unaware of their risks and uninsured
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An aerial view a flooded neighborhood on February 28, 2019 in Guerneville, California. The Russian River crested over flood stage and inundated the town of Guerneville. Credit: Justin Sullivan
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An expert federal panel has added its voice to the growing campaign for laws requiring homebuyers to be informed about a property’s flood history, calling current disclosure practices “not adequate.”
A Federal Emergency Management Agency advisory panel says in a new report that prospective buyers cannot “make a fully informed decision” about whether to buy a property in states that do not require sellers to disclose flood history. The disclosure can help buyers determine whether a property has been previously damaged by flooding, is at risk of future flood damage and whether new owners should buy flood insurance.