Choose an option below:

See how much Flood Insurance
cost for your Flood Zone

* R E M E M B E R *

  
 According to officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 2009 hurricane season, which lasts until November 30, is predicted to have between nine and 14 tropical storms, including four to seven hurricanes, one to three of which are likely to be major ones. There were 16 named storms last year.

Secure and Fast . . . Buy HERE Now

85% of flood victims do not live
in high risk flood areas . . . 

why take the risk?

Flood insurance is affordable.
The average yearly premium is around $400 –
about the same as a year's subscription
to basic cable television.

If you live in a highest-risk area (special flood hazard area), you need flood insurance. It's a vital investment for protecting your home or business. Yet only half of the homeowners living in the most flood-prone areas in our country have protection.

Even if you don't live in a highest-risk area, you are still at risk for floods. Hurricanes become tropical systems that can also cause extensive flood damage in coastal and inland areas. Some of the most damaging floods after a hurricane occur hundreds of miles from the coast.

Now is the time to purchase flood insurance. We're just weeks away from the start of hurricane season -- and there's a 30-day wait before your policy takes effect.

Basic information property owners
should know about Flood Insurance

• What is a Flood?
  
  
• Does my Homeowners Insurance cover Flooding?
  
  
• What are Flood Risk Scenarios?
  
  
• Flood Damage vs Water Damage

What is a Flood ?

Does my Homeowners Insurance Policy cover flooding?

Flood damage is not covered by standard homeowners and renters insurance. Flood coverage is available as a separate policy CLICK HERE to go to the Flood insurance quote form.

The National Flood Insurance Program, aka NFIP, provides coverage for up to $250,000 for the structure of the home and $100,000 for personal possessions. The NFIP policy provides replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home, but only actual cash value coverage for your possessions. Replacement cost coverage pays to rebuild your home as it was before the damage. Actual cash value is replacement cost coverage minus depreciation so that the older your possessions are, the less you will get if they are damaged. There may also be limits on coverage for furniture and other belongings stored in your basement.

Flood insurance is available for renters as well as homeowners. You will need flood insurance if you live in a designated flood zone. Flooding can also occur in inland areas and away from coastlines and rivers. Consider buying a flood insurance policy if your house could be flooded by an overflowing creek or pond or rising water. There is a 30-day waiting period before flood coverage takes effect so don’t wait for a hurricane warning on the evening news to buy a policy.

What are Flood Risk Scenarios?

Everyone is at risk. Floods can happen almost anywhere. They are not limited to coastal areas or to devastating tropical storms - they happen more often and in more locations than you may realize.

In fact, floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S.

So what’s your flood risk? These hypothetical scenarios can help you find out.

Once you understand your risk, you can understand how to protect yourself from financial loss due to flooding.

Which scenario applies to you?

Danielle’s Story / Flash Flood

Danielle lives in a region that sees little rainfall. Late one summer, a current of warm, moist air blows in from the Gulf, bringing with it a torrential downpour. With no rain for the past several months, the desert climate has made the ground bone-dry and unable to absorb the rainfall. Within a couple hours, the rushing water carrying deadly debris crashes through Danielle’s neighborhood. The flooding causes massive destruction, sweeping away everything in its path.

John’s Story / New Development

John lives in a relatively new suburb. Near his home, an apartment complex is being built. As a severe thunderstorm moves in, heavy rains rapidly accumulate. With less land available to absorb the precipitation, the water has nowhere to go and begins to pool. John’s neighborhood experiences a flood that lasts only hours, but causes thousands of dollars in damage.

Sarah’s Story / Dams/Levees

Sarah lives several miles from a small earthen dam. One spring, a strong Northeaster comes up the coast, bringing heavy rains that last for days. As the rainwater accumulates, the small dam reaches its "worst case scenario" capacity. Under the pressure of this extra water, the dam collapses. Sarah’s community experiences a flood that lasts for several days and causes extreme damage to homes and businesses in the area.

Jorge’s Story / Tropical Storm

Jorge lives in a small community 168 miles inland from Miami. When a hurricane hits the coast, Jorge feels safe from harm. Days later, the tropical storm system moves in and stalls over Jorge’s community. Steady torrential rains from the tropical storm slowly begin to accumulate. The ground becomes saturated and storm drains are quickly overwhelmed. The community experiences a major flood that lasts for days.

Flood Damage vs. Water Damage

Water, water everywhere, but not a drop should be there. With dismay, you discover that your home is filled with damaging water. Will your insurance policy cover this loss? That depends on the type of insurance you chose to purchase and how the water entered your house.

There basically are two insurance policies that deal with a homeowner's damage due to water -- a flood insurance policy and a homeowners insurance policy. Losses not covered by one of these policies may be covered by the other. Knowing the losses to which your home could be exposed will help you decide whether to buy one or both of these insurance coverage.

While insurance policies may differ in the coverage provided from homeowner to homeowner, there often are basic features common to all policies. You should ask your insurance agent or insurance company about the specifics of your insurance policy. In the meantime, the Insurance Information Network of California (IINC) offers the following general information based on standard insurance policies.

FLOOD INSURANCE

As the name implies, a standard flood insurance policy, which is written by the National Flood Insurance Program, provides coverage up to the policy limit for damage caused by flood. The dictionary defines "flood" as a rising and overflowing of a body of water onto normally dry land. For insurance purposes, the word "rising" in this definition is the key to distinguishing flood damage from water damage. Generally, damage caused by water that has been on the ground at some point before damaging your home is considered to be flood damage. A handful of examples of flood damage include:

Flood damage to your home can be insured only with a flood insurance policy -- no other insurance will cover flood damage. Flood insurance is available through your insurance agent, insurance company or local Federal Emergency Management Office (FEMA). To determine if your home is located in a flood plain, contact your county planning office. If you are living in a flood plain, flood insurance may be an excellent purchase.

HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE

A homeowners insurance policy doesn't provide coverage for flood damage, but it does provide coverage for many types of water damage to your home. Just the opposite from flood damage, for insurance purposes, water damage is considered to occur when water damages your home before the water comes in contact with the ground. A few examples of water damage include:

Even if flood or water damage is not covered by your homeowners insurance policy, losses from theft, fire or explosion resulting from water damage is covered. For example, if a nearby creek overflows and floods your home, and looters steal some of your furnishings after you evacuate, the theft would be covered by your homeowners insurance because it is a direct result of the water damage. However, the flood damage would be covered only if you have flood insurance.

It's important to note that flood insurance and homeowners insurance do not duplicate coverage for water damage. Instead, they complement each other.

It is up to you to talk to your insurance agent or insurance company about flood insurance and homeowners insurance, and then decide which insurance coverage you need to protect your home, its contents and your family.