17 Jun 5 Things Homeowners Need to Know to Prepare for Flood Season
Flood and Hurricane season bring their own unique set of challenges to homeowners this time of year. It can be overwhelming to imagine how to prepare for something as unexpected as a hurricane or flood, but to make it easier and to get you thinking, we have 5 things every homeowner needs to know to prepare.
1. Homeowner’s Insurance Doesn’t Include Flood Insurance
We try to share this important piece of information every time we talk about floods and hurricanes, but unfortunately, many homeowners still don’t realize that a standard homeowner’s policy will not cover damages caused by flooding.
2. More homeowners are at risk than they think
Flooding is a risk to any home or business, whether inland or near the coastline. In fact, in the past five years, all 50 states have experienced floods, and even an inch of water can cause thousands of dollars in damage, losses that are specifically excluded from your homeowners and personal umbrella policies.
3. Flood insurance coverage takes 30 days
Coverage for a flood doesn’t begin on day one of a flood insurance policy, in fact, it begins 30 days after purchase. It’s always best to prepare for natural disasters before they occur, but when it comes to flood, you won’t have time to protect yourself if you wait until you’ve heard about an oncoming storm on the news. Give yourself time to get past those initial 30 days by purchasing a policy sooner rather than later.
4. Flood insurance covers more than you may think
Flood insurance can protect the physical structure of your home and its foundation, including plumbing, electrical systems, central air, heating systems, cabinets, paneling, and a detached garage. Additionally, it can cover clothing, furniture, electronics, curtains, freezers, and certain valuables, like art (up to a specified limit). Not to mention, a flood policy also covers debris removal. All items that wouldn’t be otherwise covered from damages due to flooding.
5. Floods and hurricanes are already serious, but forecasts predict a very active hurricane season this year
This year, hurricane season had a running start. In the first week of June alone, there had already been enough named storms to move to the letter “C” in the alphabet, a record-breaking beginning to the hurricane season. The quick start to the season isn’t the only concerning thing. Meteorologists expect that this will be an active hurricane season.
Given the current health concerns in our country and our local community, preparing and thinking about an overly active hurricane season is, of course, not what any of us want to think about, and we know just how difficult COVID-19 has been on businesses, families, and individuals. However, we hope you know that we’re here for you, and we are always available to discuss how we can help you prepare for a difficult hurricane season!
If you have any questions or concerns about how to prepare for hurricane season, we are glad to help. Give us a call Monday – Friday, 8:30 am-5:00 pm.
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