Should You Buy Flood Insurance?

1 October 2015
 Categories: Business, Blog

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Homeowners who live in a flood plain are required by their mortgage companies to carry flood insurance. Even if you do not live in a flood plain, you may be wise to invest in a personal flood policy.  Severe weather can strike anywhere, causing flash flooding in areas that rarely experience that problem. 

Private and Government Insurance

Regular homeowner policies do not cover flood damage. Even if you acquire flood insurance through the government, it only covers up to $350,000 for your home and your possessions, an amount that is insufficient to cover many people's losses. You can take several different routes to make certain that you are completely protected. You can buy a government plan and invest in a supplemental flood policy from a private insurer or get all of your flood coverage through your personal insurance agent. Even if you live in an area that qualifies for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), you may be able to save money by using a private insurance company. 

Risks Vs. Benefits

If you live in a low or moderate risk area, you may wonder if paying your flood insurance premiums are worth it. Twenty-five percent of all flood insurance claims are actually filed in those lower risk areas. The average flood damage claim is approximately $38,000. One flash flood can easily cause that much damage in a matter of minutes. Policy prices vary widely, depending on the value of your structure and its location, but you can expect to pay approximately $400 - $450 annually to cover a single story home. If you rent or lease your dwelling, you can take out a policy to cover only your possessions. 

Recently, many areas in the United States have suffered from flooding, including Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, Louisiana, Utah, Arizona, and Wisconsin. Locations that are not considered high risk have experienced flash floods from intense rain storms. Those residents with flood insurance will be able to quickly recover from any storm inflicted damage. 

Even if you live in a low-risk area, consider adding flood insurance to your personal insurance coverage. Your insurance agent will be able to recommend the best and most affordable plans for your needs. Your regular homeowner's policy will not protect you in case of flooding, which means you could suffer a devastating financial loss if torrential rains cause unexpected flooding in your area. Protect yourself and your family by adding flood protection for your home. 

For more information, visit http://www.laprescali.com or a similar website.