Flooding can happen in any location at any time. Even though many people associate floods with coastal properties, flooding can take place inland as well. That is why you always need to take a look at the map to figure out whether your property is located in a flood zone. There are some situations where your lender might require you to purchase flood insurance. What do you need to know?

What Is Protected And What Is Not?

When you purchase flood insurance, there are three broad components that you should examine. You need to check and see whether the policy covers the building, the contents of your home, and potential replacement expenses. Flood insurance policies generally insure any physical damage done to your house as well as any belongings you have inside your home. This might include your walls, household appliances, plumbing system, electrical system, clothing, and furniture.

On the other hand, most flood insurance policies do not cover your outdoor structures. For example, they will not protect your patio, swimming pool, fence, or vehicles parked outside the home.

What Is Your Flood Risk Level?

Your flood insurance premium will vary depending on where you are located. For example, if you are in a flood zone, your flood insurance premiums will probably be significantly higher; however, a significant percentage of flood claims occur in areas that are not located in a flood plain. While your premium should be lower, you may want to talk to your real estate agent to see whether it is worth it to purchase flood insurance.

Is Flood Insurance Required?

Flood insurance has its limitations, just like any other insurance policy. Therefore, you might be wondering whether it is required.

If it is required, it would be required by your lender. If your house is located in a flood zone, there is a significant chance that your lender will require you to purchase flood insurance as a requirement for financing. If you refuse to purchase flood insurance, then your lender might refuse to finance your property. You should always compare flood insurance premiums across different companies before you decide which one to go with. Be sure to compare policy coverage options and limitations as well. 

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More often than not, what starts off as a rainstorm can quickly give way to flooding, if the rain is relentless. During these times, the danger is always imminent and your safety depends on your ability to act quickly to keep yourself and your family safe. Part of safety includes basic knowledge regarding flood conditions, as well as essential safety practices that will help you to avoid drowning and other dangerous situations.

Personal Safety in Floodwaters

Protect yourself from all the germs, contaminants, insects or snakes that could be harmful to you by wearing the right protective gear. Floodwater is filled with contaminants that include sewer water, chemicals, insects, and wildlife. The best protection comes from making sure that you’re wearing the right clothing, shoes, masks, etc. to deal with floodwaters. Waterproof boots with steel toes, waterproof work gloves, goggles, safety glasses or masks, a protective head cover, long-sleeved shirts, and pants should be worn when cleaning an area that has been flooded. Sometimes respirators need to be used if fumes from chemicals or sewage are present. You are not only protecting yourself from contaminated water, you are also attempting to protect yourself from dangerous bugs, snakes, and other animals that may be present in flood waters.

Walking & Moving Water

Never walk through moving water. It doesn’t take much to slip and fall. In fact, as little as six inches of water is enough to cause you to lose your footing. However, if walking through water is inevitable, use a stick to check the ground ahead of you for firmness and walk wherever the water is not moving.

Driving During a Flood

It’s best not to drive in flooded areas, even if the water looks relatively shallow. The condition of the roads can become weakened after being underwater for a period of time. The weight of a car may cause a road to collapse. It’s also dangerous because flood waters can be electrically charged as a result of fallen power lines and underground power lines. However, if you are forced to drive in a flooded area, get out of the car immediately if floodwater surrounds your car. Move to higher ground as quickly as possible.
Deaths and injuries occur all the time as a result of flooding. Many people feel confident when it comes to driving and navigating high waters during a flood. However, there are many dangers, both seen and unseen, that you should be aware of. More often than not, an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. Protect yourself by wearing the right clothing and avoiding floodwaters as much as possible. Keep in mind that driving and walking can be dangerous during these situations, and should be avoided if possible.

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Wait for an All-Clear Notification

You’ll want to make sure that it’s safe to return to your neighborhood after a flood. Even if you think conditions are safe, there may still be some hazards that could put you in harm’s way if you try to return before you receive official authorization from relief workers.

Get Appliances Checked

Flooding can cause shortages in your appliances that might make them dangerous to use. Before turning on any of your appliances again, have them checked by a professional.

Handle Items That Have Absorbed Water Cautiously

Furnishings and debris that have absorbed water will be heavier and require more effort to move. Throw away items that can’t be cleaned or disinfected.

Look for Floor Sagging

If you notice any sagging in your floors caused by the floodwater, walking on them may be unsafe. You should also look for sagging in our ceiling.

Return Home During the Day

You should return home when there’s enough daylight so that you can see clearly enough to identify any dangers in your home. Turning on your lights might still be dangerous after a flood, and returning home during the day should give you enough natural lighting.

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Everyone lives in a flood zone.

Flooding is the top-ranked natural disaster in the United States, with a dozen potential causes ranging from heavy rains, tropical storms and hurricanes to new housing developments and rain after fire. Floods can occur in all 50 states and, when they do, they leave massive damage in their wake.

Flood damages exceed $2.7 billion annually.

As a homeowner, you carry homeowners insurance to protect against theft and loss. Typical homeowners insurance, however, excludes damages from flooding. Homeowners in Corpus Christi , therefore, should make sure to have a separate flood insurance policy. And once that policy is in place, there are other steps you should follow, too.

First, make a log of your possessions, either on paper or by video. In your log, include everything that you own of value. Next, if you own jewelry, have it appraised and store the appraisal; if you own appliances, log the serial numbers and attach original receipts.

Then, buy a safe-deposit box at a bank, for example, and store your possession log. 

All of this information matters because, in the event you need to make a claim, you’ll have an easier time dealing with the insurance adjuster. It’s hard to prove possession of items that have been washed away by flood waters, after all.

You’ll also want to share this list with your insurance agent in advance so your policy is made with the proper amount of coverage.

Floods can strike anywhere and, as many people learn the hard way, standard homeowners insurance does not include flood coverage. If you’re without flood coverage, talk to your insurance agent about adding a flood policy.

Because many policies don’t take effect until 30 days from purchase, this is one form of insurance you’ll want to buy in advance.

Filed under: Around The Home by Julie Woodward
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