FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017
 It may surprise you, but most home insurance policies don't cover flood damages.
Insurance often considers flooding to be any type of water damage, regardless of cause. It's important to keep this in mind, as a flood can come from more than just heavy rain. Burst pipes, roof leaks and many other everyday occurrences can also lead to flooding within your home.
At one time, the coverage for flooding alone could drive up the cost of a home insurance policy. The cost risk was very great, for both insurance companies and the insured parties.
Over time, many companies stopped offering flood insurance. In 1986, the government created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to help provide affordable flood coverage for people who living in areas that have high flood risks.
The NFIP also encourages people to build homes outside of flood-prone areas, as this process can reduce the risk of flood damages even further.
If you live in an area with a high flood risk, you can often get coverage through the NFIP. But if your home doesn't qualify for NFIP coverage, you do sometimes have options. You can buy flood insurance as a standalone policy or add it as a rider to your home insurance plan. However, you will face more additional insurance costs.
Like the NFIP, home insurers often encourage policyholders to live places that are not at high risks for floods. But, location guarantees nothing. A flood can happen in many places that it technically shouldn't.
If there is a chance of flooding in your area, you should do all that you can to protect your home. Take these steps if a flood is threatening your home:
- Reduce the risk of flooding caused by in-home accidents. Maintain your pipes to keep them from breaking. Clean out your gutters and water channels around your home. Make sure that your basement is properly sealed.
- Keep an eye on the weather. If a prolonged or heavy water accumulation threatens flooding, make preparations ahead of time.
- Protect your home as best you can. Some people use sandbags or other artificial measures to direct water away from the home.
- If you have to, move your personal property to a safe place, above the water line.
- If flooding threatens your safety, evacuate. If you can't evacuate safely, move to a high area in the home and wait for assistance.
Call your home insurance agent to discuss how flooding affects your policy. The agent likely cannot initiate immediate coverage if a potential flood is on the way, as most policies don't take effect until 30 days after purchase. However, he or she can help you go over precautions you can take and other aspects related to your policy.
We can get you the coverage you need. Call Raymond Longoria Insurance at (888) 296-0345 for a free South Texas flood insurance quote.
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