Austin offers up to $2,000 for flood insurance aid

Qualifying residents can get up to $2,000 to get or maintain flood insurance for one year.

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin is launching a new program to help homeowners get flood insurance.

Qualifying residents can get up to $2,000 or maintain flood insurance for one year.

To be eligible, you have to own a home in the 100-year-floodplain and have a household income at or below 140% of the median family income.

The average flood insurance claim in Austin costs around $21,000, but most homeowner policies don’t cover flood damage.

Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis, and city staff say you will want to apply before Dec. 31. If approved, funds will be disbursed directly to an insurance company for policy payments.

Eligible residents can apply through the Del Valle Community Coalition website at ATXdvcc.org/flood.

The city said federally backed flood insurance is available to everyone in Austin at up to a 25% discount. The average annual policy in Austin is $670, but policies in floodplain areas typically cost more than $1,000.