Do You Need A Flood Insurance Policy?
Already this hurricane season, the nation has seen unprecedented flooding from Louisiana, through Massachusetts, and onto New York City. While the weather has grown less predictable, the infrastructure in older coastal towns are especially vulnerable to seasonal storms.
And when water is pouring into your home, you’ll need to know “Who is going to pay for the restoration costs?” Most homeowners insurance policies will help cover water damage if the cause is sudden and accidental. According to the Insurance Information Institute, homeowners insurance may help pay for repairs and restoration costs after your water heater ruptures or an upstairs pipe bursts and water saturates the ceiling below.
However, when water enters the home from outside, it is seldom covered by the basic homeowners policy; you’ll need to pay out of your own pocket. Several other situations will not be covered by typical homeowners insurance plans. While your policy may cover the cost of tearing out and replacing that damaged floor, you shouldn’t expect it to cover the cost of replacing your broken dishwasher or washing machine.
Coverage generally will not kick in if the water damage results from an unresolved maintenance issue, such as continuous leaking near a faucet or other plumbing fixture. You also will not typically be covered by a traditional homeowners policy if water backs into your home through an outside sewer or drain. You may, however, be able to purchase additional sewer or water backup coverage that may help cover damage from that type of event.
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Floods Are Never Covered By Homeowner Plans
To repeat, no type of flood damage, no matter the source of the water, is covered by standard homeowners policies. Flooding, for example, can occur from storms, over-saturated ground, overflowing or surging bodies of water such as rivers, ponds, lakes and oceans. You may be able to purchase a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program.
How Do You Purchase A Flood Policy?
According to FloodSmart.gov, a 2,500 square-foot home that floods with 6 inches of water could tally up a potential loss of more than $50,000. A flood insurance policy helps pay for some home repairs and the replacement of damaged belongings after a flood. Purchase a flood insurance policy through a licensed insurance agent or broker, according to the National Flood Insurance Program. To learn if your structure is located in a mapped on a coastal floodplain, visit FEMA’s online Map Service Center at msc.FEMA.gov. There, using a property’s address, you can explore your risk.
If you purchase a flood policy, it’s important to note that there is typically a 30-day waiting period before it can go into effect. An insurance agent can help answer additional questions about flood insurance or help you purchase a policy. Clean Restoration is available to meet with you about any water damage that you’ve had that needs clean-up, repairs, or restoration.
Is Flood Water Dirty?
Floodwaters are considered to be contaminated because they carry sewage and other pollutants. Raw sewage is germ infested containing disease-causing microorganisms like E Coli, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Hepatitis A, Cholera and more.When flooding disrupts drinking water supplies or covers plumbing fixtures, dirty water can back-siphon into home plumbing and into homes or buildings. When sewage or septic systems back up, they contaminate structures.
Clean Restoration is your resource to recover after a flood.
When You’ve Had Water Damage in Quincy…
In Quincy, the water damage restoration experts at Clean Restoration know a lot about insurance plans and even more about bringing your home back after water damage. The full service water damage restoration company will keep your family safe, work within your budget, and make the entire process manageable. If you’ve had flooding or water damage, contact our team or visit our website.
