Even if you don’t live in a flood zone, it is still possible you could be affected by flood damage. Floods are more common that most may think. The majority of natural disasters in the U.S. involve flood damage and a standard homeowners policy will not cover claims due to many types of water intrusion in the home including damaging water levels due to storms, hurricanes, and even melting snow.
Many mistakenly believe that if a devastating flood was to strike their area the government would step in and help. In some cases federal disaster assistance is available to communities after a qualifying event, but only if the President declares the area a disaster. And if an area is declared a disaster, funds that become available to homeowners and renters, in most cases are loans that need to be repaid. Getting flood insurance coverage will cover your property regardless if your area is declared a disaster or not.
Planning for a flood is best done in advance-which means before any disaster is even possible. Preparing your home and family for a possible water intrusion problem is a 2 step process: (1) Safeguarding your family and personal property along with (2) Making sure you are adequately covered by insurance.
