Floods and flash floods happen in all 50 states. Last year, one-third of all claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program were for policies in low-risk communities. Here are some other things you should know about floods and flood insurance.
- Just an inch of water can cause costly damage to your property.
- A car can easily be carried away by just 2 feet of flood water.
- New land development can increase flood risk, especially if the construction changes natural runoff paths.
- Federal disaster assistance is usually a loan that must be paid back with interest.
For more policy and claim statistics, visit the National Flood Insurance Program
Water in the basement is often not a “flood”
Note that many times water in your basement will not be a covered loss under a flood policy. A flood is defined as a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is the policyholder’s property) from overflow of inland or tidal waters, unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source, or mudflow.
If your loss is caused by a flood, and the flood is the proximate cause of the backup or seepage into your basement, your NFIP policy will cover many of your most critical items in the basement, like central air conditioners, drywall, electrical junctions, circuit breakers and switches, fuel tanks, furnaces, hot water heaters, sump pumps and more.
Source: MiddleOak.com
