Flood Insurance:
Some people are misled into thinking that their home insurance covers "flood" damage. Afterall, when the pipe broke in the house and "flooded" the kitchen, the insurance company paid for the damages. In the insurance industry, "flood" is a buzz word that has a specific meaning. Flood pertains to water or mudslides caused by storms, rising rivers, hurricanes and the like that damage your property. Due to floods catatrosphic nature, flood coverage is excluded in a standard homeowner's insurance policy.
Who Provides Flood Insurance?
Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Your insurance company procures flood insurance through the NFIP. As a consumer, you may go through your insurance company or the NFIP directly to obtain flood coverage. Either way, the price is the same!
Flood Definition:
A flood is a great flowing or overflowing of water, especially over land areas that are normally dry. In easy to understand terms, if water rises from the ground up, it's a possible flood. There are different types of floods:
Coastal Flooding: This occurs when hurricanes, tidal waves and storms produce heavy rains or drive ocean water onto land.
River Flooding: This is normally seasonal because of snowmelt or heavy rains. The water fills the river basin too quickly and the river overflows its banks. The floodplain becomes covered with water, often damaging homes and other property.
Flash Flooding: This is caused by when small and powerful fast-flowing rivers are quickly formed because of excessive rainfull or dam failure which sometimes trigger mudslides.
Building and Personal Property Coverage:
A flood insurance policy provides coverage for Buildings and Personal Property. The maximum coverage limit available on buildings is $250,000. The maximum coverage limit available for Personal Property is $100,000. Both of these limits are subject to a deductible. This is the amount of money you pay first before the policy kicks in. In other words, your property damage has to exceed your deductible before the insurance company pays for a claim up to your policy limits.
Sandbag Coverage:
If your property is clearly threatened by flooding, our policy provides up to $1,000 of coverage for sandbags which includes sand, plastic sheeting and lumber used in connection with the sandbags. The $1,000 limit on sandbags, supplies and labor is part of, not in addition to, your building and contents coverage. This coverage is not subject to the policy deductible. This coverage is activated when a legally authorized official mandates that you must evacuate from your property. If you fill the sandbags yourself, you will be reimbursed at the federal minimum wage level.
Damages:
According to FEMA, flood damage throughout the United States costs on average $2 Billion a year. Hurricane Katrina exceeded $22 Billion in damages.
What to do next:
If your home is in a flood prone area or if your mortgage lender requires that you obtain flood insurance, then call your agent at 1-888-737-6200 for a new quote. Quotes are free and the price is the same no matter which insurance company provides it. Agents are not allowed to add Broker Fees to these types of policies.
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