If you're buying a home in Lumberton, North Carolina, there's something you need to know that your real estate agent might not emphasize enough: this beautiful Lumber River community has a serious flood problem. And here's the kicker—your standard homeowners insurance won't cover a drop of flood water that enters your home.
Lumberton sits 80 miles inland, which makes some people assume they're safe from hurricane flooding. But in 2016, Hurricane Matthew dropped 20 inches of rain and sent the Lumber River to an unprecedented 28 feet. Just two years later, Hurricane Florence broke that record, cresting at 29 feet and devastating more than 600 homes. Many of those homeowners didn't have flood insurance and lost everything.
Let's talk about how to protect your home and your financial future in Lumberton, where the question isn't if flooding will happen again, but when.
Understanding Homeowners Insurance in Lumberton
North Carolina homeowners are facing significant insurance rate increases in 2025 and 2026. The average North Carolina homeowner currently pays between $3,237 and $3,749 annually for home insurance—about $310 more than the national average. But those numbers are climbing fast.
Starting in June 2025, base rates increased by 7.5%, and they'll jump another 7.5% in June 2026. That means you're looking at roughly $500 more per year by mid-2026. The good news? This increase is much smaller than the 42% hike insurance companies originally requested. The bad news? Your premium is still going up, and it's happening during a time when many Lumberton residents are still recovering from past storms.
Your standard homeowners policy covers the usual suspects: fire, theft, windstorm damage, liability if someone gets hurt on your property, and temporary living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable. What it absolutely does not cover is flood damage. Not a single inch of water rising from the ground or a river. That requires separate flood insurance.
Why Flood Insurance Is Non-Negotiable in Lumberton
After witnessing what happened during Matthew and Florence, Lumberton residents know flooding isn't a theoretical risk—it's a recurring reality. The city has invested $10 million in a floodgate system to prevent future devastation, and the state approved over $7.2 million in mitigation funds to buy out flood-prone homes. These aren't the actions of a community worried about a minor inconvenience.
Here's something that should concern every homeowner in the area: a 2025 study found that more than 40% of North Carolina properties that flooded over the past 30 years were located outside designated flood zones. Almost one in four properties that flooded between 1996 and 2020 flooded more than once. Translation? Just because your home isn't in an official flood zone doesn't mean you're safe. The water doesn't check FEMA maps before it rises.
If you have a mortgage from a federally-backed lender and live in a high-risk flood zone, flood insurance isn't optional—it's required by law. But even if it's not mandatory for your property, it's worth serious consideration. The average flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) costs $874 per year in North Carolina. Compare that to the tens of thousands—or hundreds of thousands—you'd pay out of pocket to repair or rebuild after a flood.
How to Get Flood Insurance
You have two main options for flood insurance: the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private flood insurance. The NFIP is backed by the federal government and offers reliable, standardized coverage. Private flood insurance can sometimes be cheaper and may offer higher coverage limits, but policies vary widely between companies.
Here's a crucial detail: flood insurance policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins. You can't wait until a hurricane is forming in the Atlantic and then rush to buy a policy. You need to plan ahead. This waiting period catches a lot of people off guard, so if you're closing on a home or just realized you need coverage, don't delay.
To purchase flood insurance, contact your current homeowners insurance agent first. Many insurance companies sell NFIP policies, and bundling with your existing insurer can simplify the process. If you want to explore private options, get quotes from at least three companies to compare coverage and pricing. Make sure you understand what's covered—building property, personal belongings, or both—and confirm the coverage limits meet your needs.
Practical Steps for Lumberton Homeowners
Beyond insurance, there are tangible steps you can take to protect your home and potentially lower your insurance costs. Elevate critical systems like your HVAC, water heater, and electrical panel above potential flood levels. Install sump pumps with battery backup. Consider flood vents that allow water to flow through your foundation rather than building up pressure against it.
Document everything you own with photos or video. Store this documentation in the cloud or somewhere off-site. After a flood, your memory of what you owned won't be enough for an insurance claim—you'll need proof. This fifteen-minute task could save you thousands of dollars and countless headaches during a claim.
Review your coverage annually. As your home's value changes and as you acquire more belongings, your insurance needs evolve. The policy that made sense five years ago might leave you underinsured today. Don't wait for a disaster to discover your coverage fell short.
Getting Started with Coverage
If you're new to Lumberton or haven't reviewed your insurance in a while, start by calling your current homeowners insurance agent. Ask three specific questions: Do I currently have flood insurance? Based on my property's location and flood history, do they recommend it? What would a flood insurance policy cost for my home?
Don't assume you can't afford flood insurance without getting a quote. At an average of $874 annually—about $73 per month—it's often far more affordable than people expect. Compare that to the financial devastation of losing your home and belongings with no coverage, and the choice becomes clear.
Lumberton is a tight-knit community that has shown remarkable resilience through multiple devastating floods. Protecting your home with the right insurance—both homeowners and flood coverage—isn't just about financial security. It's about ensuring you can rebuild and stay in the community you love when the next storm comes. Get quotes today, understand your coverage options, and make sure you're prepared for whatever the Lumber River brings next.
