Now that the water has receded…costs are adding up as many flood victims clean-up without flood insurance.

Thirty days of fans before this home is even close to dry. Water from the Shunganunga Creek caused at least $20,000 in damages for Winter Ball and her family, money Winter says they don't have, because her insurance agent said flood insurance wasn't necessary.

"We refinanced the house and again they told us again we were not in a flood zone and needed no flood insurance," says Ball.

Part of the problem could be that many insurance agents don't have an incentive to sell you flood insurance and prevent damage like hers.

"Do the research on your own because insurance agents don't necessarily have incentive to help you. They are not making money and some just don't know," says John Meetz, KS Insurance Commission.

Flood insurance is handled nationally through FEMA and something Meetz says everyone needs to consider.

"The fact is everyone is at risk for flooding. I would go to your county or city office and look at flood map information to determine if you should buy it from the federal government," says Meetz.

Winter says that won't be necessary for her family, though, because they're not willing to risk being without flood insurance again.

"Never in a million years would we have thought we'd see what we saw on Monday morning. We could live on hill and we'll still have flood insurance," says Ball.

She's still able to laugh, but says with insurance this damage would've been half as heartbreaking.

Average flood insurance premiums are $400 a year, but can be as low as $85 a year. To find out more about purchasing flood insurance you can visit our website at ksnt.com and click on 27 Newslinks.