Floods; They Can Happen to You!
Public insurance adjusters in Texas and Oklahoma are very busy right now dealing with all the claims that have been filed and will be filed over the coming weeks due to the storms and flooding. Just because you may not live in that area does not mean that your home or business is immune to the effects of severe storms and floods. Just think about how much damage a few feet of water can cause. Do you need flood insurance? Will you be able to get it if you need it? You may be surprised.
Do You Need Flood Insurance? Of course, if you live in a flood plain or an area where floods have happened in the past, it’s a good idea to get insurance. You may want insurance, too, if you live near a river or even a large creek that may flood in heavy rain.
It’s important to know what flood insurance covers. A flood isn’t just any accumulation of water. For NFIP and other insurance purposes, a flood is a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow. In other words, leaks through your basement during or after a heavy rain probably aren’t covered by flood insurance.
Can You Get Insurance? Whether or not you live in an NFIP area, you can buy flood insurance. It doesn’t matter if you own a home or rent.
As general rules, homeowners can get up to $250,000 to cover their homes; up to $100,000 for personal property in the homes. Renters can get up to $100,000 to cover their personal property. Businesses can get up to $500,000 to cover business building and their contents.
What You Can Do? If you’re thinking about flood insurance, here are some tips to help you on your way: Have your home and property surveyed or inspected by a professional surveyor or engineer to determine the threat of flooding, or use NFIP’s flood-threat tool. Check to see if your area is covered by NFIP. Call your insurance agent and ask about adding flood coverage to your homeowner’s or renter’s policy. Act quickly. Usually, a flood insurance policy won’t go into effect until after 30 days you buy it – it cuts down on insurance fraud and abuse.
Be prepared for any emergency, including a flood, at all times. Contact FEMA and your insurance company as soon as possible after you suffer any flood-related damage.
Unfortunately, it takes a disaster elsewhere before we stop and think about the potential threats and dangers we face ourselves. Take action now to protect you, your family and your belongings. It’s always advantageous to have someone on your side. If disaster strikes make sure your interests are protected with Reliable Claims Adjusting. We are your advocate. Call us anytime for a free home and property evaluation.
