Becoming Flood Smart....

When it comes to flooding there are certain factors that are indisputable.

1)      Floods are the single most common natural disaster in the United States.

2)      Floods occur in all 50 states, and for any number of reasons.

3)      Every year in the US, flood losses amount to $2.7 billion or higher.

4)      A car can be swept away by just two feet of moving water, and six inches can knock a grown man off his feet.

5)     

Flooding doesn’t have to be a federally declared disaster to destroy lives and property.

Even worse, most people are not insured against flooding or water damage, mistakenly assuming that it is already covered under their standard homeowners policy.  This could not be further from the truth.

Once you do obtain a flood insurance policy, it typically takes about 30 days for such a policy to actually kick in, meaning you are still vulnerable for almost a month after taking out such protection.

In order to obtain flood coverage, your community needs to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which provides such coverage for homeowners, renters, and businesses.   To find out if your community does participate, go to www.floodsmart.gov.  You can discover the risk to your area by simply typing in your address.  It will also provide contact information for insurance agents who can answer all of your question regarding flooding and flood coverage.

Most flood damage policies are around $120 annually, which is well worth it when you stop to consider the enormous potential loss to your property and possessions as the result of flooding.  NFIP flood insurance can cover your home for up to $250,000 for the structure and $100,000 for the contents.

Flood clean up can be a lengthy and expensive process, so having coverage is always recommended. 

You also want to do some research and have the contact information for your local water  restoration company, one that can come in and handle all aspects of your water damage problem and get things back to normal as rapidly as possible.

Of course, with no government regulations in place to determine who can and cannot do this sort of work, finding a qualified provider can be somewhat problematic.  The ideal provider will be certified by an industry leader such as the Institute for Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC), available 24/7, with a full staff of technicians proficient on the latest water damage tools and procedures, and offer a full range of services designed to get your home back to its pre loss condition.

They will not only be able to have somebody out to your property within an hour of your call to assess the problem and begin water restoration procedures, but they can also work alongside your insurance to make sure that everything is covered and provided for in short order, making sure that you are able to resume your normal life as soon as possible.

Floods are a very real threat to you and your family.  Don’t be caught unaware.  Contact your local IICRC certified water damage professionals today.