{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/millions-lack-flood-insurance-amid-rising-risks-and-program-flaws","slug":"millions-lack-flood-insurance-amid-rising-risks-and-program-flaws","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/millions-lack-flood-insurance-amid-rising-risks-and-program-flaws","title":"Millions lack flood insurance amid rising risks and program flaws","subtitle":"A federal program meant to provide affordable flood insurance is failing to reach those most in need, with policy numbers declining.","excerpt":"Millions of Americans in high-risk flood zones lack federal flood insurance, a situation exacerbated by rising climate risks and a program struggling with affordability and outdated maps. Policy numbers have fallen by half a million in five years.","category":"Politics","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T15:05:12.861Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-09-29T14:19:05.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-29T15:05:12.861Z","readTime":"3 min read","scores":{"trust":60,"critic":70,"hype":20,"notes":{"trust":"Reporting is corroborated by multiple outlets and cites federal government data and First Street analysis.","critic":"The story is well-structured, clearly separates fact from comment, and includes human interest elements.","hype":"The headline and presentation are factual and do not overstate the content of the article."}},"tags":["#FloodInsurance","#ClimateChange","#FederalProgram","#KentuckyFloods","#FEMA"],"entities":["Libby Honeycutt","Ronald Conley","Jennifer Campbell","FEMA","National Flood Insurance Program","Jeffrey Schlegelmilch"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["Nationwide, 2.4% of properties have federal flood insurance, while 8.4% face severe or extreme flood risk.","The number of federal flood insurance policies has dropped by about 500,000 over the past five years.","In some eastern Kentucky areas, fewer than 5% of properties are insured despite high flood risk.","Proposals to make the federal flood insurance program more affordable have not advanced."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Millions of Americans who are most vulnerable to flooding do not have federal flood insurance, a situation made worse by a declining number of policies and increasing climate risks. Nationwide, only 2.4% of properties are covered by federal flood insurance, compared to 8.4% that are at severe or extreme risk of flooding. This gap highlights fundamental issues within the program, which struggles to balance affordability, flood protection, and the cost to taxpayers. The number of flood insurance policies has decreased by approximately 500,000 in the last five years. This trend occurs as the risk of flooding rises across the United States, driven by factors such as climate change."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The problem is particularly acute in areas like eastern Kentucky, where in some ZIP codes, fewer than 5% of properties have flood insurance, despite hundreds or thousands of buildings being at extreme risk. Experts note that areas with high flood risk and low insurance coverage tend to be poorer. These areas are also sometimes served by FEMA flood maps that do not accurately reflect the severity of the risk or mandate sufficient insurance purchases. Proposals aimed at overhauling the program, including making it more affordable for low-income individuals, have stalled in Congress."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on flood map accuracy"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Washington Top News and The Independent (US) report that FEMA's flood maps do not always accurately capture the extent of severe flood risk, leading millions to believe their homes are safer than they are and not requiring them to buy insurance when they might need it. The Seattle Times digest also notes that climate change increases flood risk, leading fewer people to buy insurance. None of the other digests provide specific details on the accuracy of FEMA's flood maps."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mentioned specific figures for the total number of federal flood insurance policies currently in effect, only the decrease over five years. Additionally, none of the reports provided details on the cost of the federal flood insurance program to taxpayers."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"PressNewsAgency","url":"https://pressnewsagency.org/millions-who-need-flood-insurance-the-most-dont-have-it-as-flawed-federal-program-raises-prices","headline":"Millions who need flood insurance the most don’t have it as flawed federal program raises prices","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T14:31:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"My Mother Lode","url":"https://mymotherlode.com/news/national/11178544/millions-who-need-flood-insurance-the-most-dont-have-it-as-flawed-federal-program-raises-prices.html","headline":"Millions who need flood insurance the most don’t have it as flawed federal program raises prices","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T14:19:05.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Washington Top News","url":"https://wtop.com/national/2026/09/millions-who-need-flood-insurance-the-most-dont-have-it-as-flawed-federal-program-raises-prices","headline":"Millions who need flood insurance the most don’t have it as flawed federal program raises prices – WTOP News","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T13:47:16.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Hamilton Spectator","url":"https://thespec.com/business/takeaways-from-the-ap-s-analysis-on-the-fundamental-flaws-in-the-national-flood-insurance-program/article_8967c349-dbab-511e-a0f1-96db46376a9b.html","headline":"Takeaways from the AP’s analysis on the fundamental flaws in the national flood insurance program","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T13:46:59.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Seattle Times","url":"https://seattletimes.com/business/millions-who-need-flood-insurance-the-most-dont-have-it-as-flawed-federal-program-raises-prices","headline":"Millions who need flood insurance the most don’t have it as flawed federal program raises prices","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T13:45:13.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Toronto Star","url":"https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/millions-who-need-flood-insurance-the-most-don-t-have-it-as-flawed-federal-program-raises-prices/article_8e2f9799-c098-54e0-99dc-0d443660ab46.html","headline":"Millions who need flood insurance the most don’t have it as flawed federal program raises prices","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T13:45:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Independent","url":"https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/fema-kentucky-congress-friends-washington-b3058313.html","headline":"Millions who need flood insurance the most don’t have it as flawed federal program raises prices","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T13:44:57.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Independent (US)","url":"https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/fema-kentucky-congress-friends-washington-b3058313.html","headline":"Millions who need flood insurance the most don’t have it as flawed federal program raises prices","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T13:44:57.000Z"},{"sourceName":"abc News","url":"https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/millions-flood-insurance-dont-flawed-federal-program-raises-136851809","headline":"Millions who need flood insurance the most don’t have it as flawed federal program raises prices","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T13:44:56.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Record","url":"https://therecord.com/business/millions-who-need-flood-insurance-the-most-don-t-have-it-as-flawed-federal-program-raises-prices/article_c429b7c5-8e46-5e06-be6a-a97c374b7982.html","headline":"Millions who need flood insurance the most don’t have it as flawed federal program raises prices","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T09:45:48.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Winnipeg Free Press","url":"https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/09/29/millions-who-need-flood-insurance-the-most-dont-have-it-as-flawed-federal-program-raises-prices","headline":"Millions who need flood insurance the most don’t have it as flawed federal program raises prices","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T08:45:48.000Z"}],"analysis":{"distribution":{"percent":{"left":70,"centre":30,"right":0},"count":{"left":7,"centre":3,"right":0},"totalSources":11,"untracked":1,"rated":10,"observedAt":"2026-09-29T16:15:26.180517+00:00"},"lifecycle":{"state":"developing","lastCheckedAt":"2026-09-29T16:45:29.989Z","closedAt":null,"checks":7,"changes":0,"reopened":false},"framing":{"left":["The left-rated reports highlighted the role of climate change in increasing flood risks across the United States, leading to fewer people buying flood insurance. They noted that areas with high flood risk and low insurance coverage tend to be poorer. The Independent (US) and The Seattle Times digests also mentioned that proposals to make the federal flood insurance program more affordable for low-income buyers have stalled. The Independent (US) and The Toronto Star digests used an Associated Press account that included personal stories from eastern Kentucky residents affected by the July 2022 flood, detailing their experiences with flood damage and lack of insurance."],"centre":["The centre-rated reports focused on the statistics of flood insurance coverage versus flood risk nationwide and in specific areas like eastern Kentucky. They highlighted the decrease in the number of flood insurance policies over the last five years and the challenges in reforming the federal program. Washington Top News, which provided a full report, included personal accounts from individuals affected by floods, illustrating the difficulties faced by those without insurance and the benefits for those who had it. The digests from My Mother Lode, The Record, and Winnipeg Free Press also used an Associated Press account that began with similar personal stories from eastern Kentucky."],"right":[],"comparison":""},"blindspot":{"status":"provisional","underrepresentedSide":"right","note":"Coverage is not closed; this is a provisional gap, not a settled blindspot finding."},"sourceFactualityDistribution":{"mixed":1,"high":5,"unknown":1,"veryHigh":4},"ownershipDistribution":{"privateEquity":2,"mediaConglomerate":3,"independent":1,"corporation":2},"firstDatedReport":{"sourceName":"Winnipeg Free Press","url":"https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/09/29/millions-who-need-flood-insurance-the-most-dont-have-it-as-flawed-federal-program-raises-prices","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T08:45:48.000Z"},"countries":[{"country":"London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom","count":2},{"country":"Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada","count":1},{"country":"Woodland Park, Passaic County, New Jersey, 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