As Hurricane Helene barreled across the Eastern Seaboard and inland this week, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake, the storm has exposed a grim reality for thousands of homeowners: most are not covered by flood insurance. This crisis has raised concerns about the nation's preparedness for future climate-driven disasters.

In Buncombe County, N.C., where an entire town disappeared beneath floodwaters, less than 1 percent of households had flood insurance. In Unicoi County, Tenn., where dozens of residents were stranded atop a hospital roof as waters rose,

While floods are considered one of the most common and costly natural disasters in the country, FEMA says just 4% of U.S. homes have flood insurance.