Flood Insurance

My property isn't in an area that regularly floods, do I need to purchase a separate flood policy?

First off, most personal and commercial insurance policies specifically exclude flood damage. So you may be wondering why you would need to purchase a flood policy if your property isn't located in a flood zone. A flood insurance policy isn't only for Biblical floods that Noah built an ark for. You should consider a flood policy for:

• Ground level or surface water entering the building as a result of municipal storm drains backing up. Water backup coverage mentioned above could apply to water coming up out of a floor drain within the building but not the storm drains outside.
• A cold and snowy winter quickly thawed in the spring which caused flooding and surface water to enter the building.
• A nearby dam or levee breaks causing a body of water to flood a neighborhood or city.
• Flooding as a result of natural disasters like hurricanes or heavy rains.

Your flood risk is rising. Did you know?

• Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States.
• The damage from just one inch of water can cost more than $20,000.
• Almost 25% of all flood insurance claims come from areas with low-to-moderate flood risk.
• The National Flood Insurance Program has less than 1% purchase rate in low hazard flood zones, yet 20% of the losses come from these inland flood areas.
• $27,000 is the average flood claim in low-to-moderate risk zones.

**According to Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

The Cost of Flooding: Calculating and Understanding Your Risk

The average American may not have the financial resources to recover following a natural disaster so what can you do to help protect your assets?

• Flood Maps: No matter where you live or work, some risk of flooding exists. Know your flood risk by finding your community's flood map here.
• What's Covered by Flood Insurance? Flood insurance covers your home or business and the things inside it. Learn more about coverage limits and what is or isn't covered here.
• Am I Required to Have Flood Insurance? Whether you live inside or outside of the high-risk flood area, you should consider purchasing flood insurance. Learn more here.
• Reducing Future Flood Damage. 

What to do After a Flood

• Understanding Flood Loss Avoidance
• Document Damage and Start to Clean Up