A storm blows through your area that your home wasn’t prepared for. Now you’re ankle-deep in water. That can cause some serious damage.
It’s a good thing you opened up that home owner’s policy.
What you failed to realize at the time is that flood coverage isn’t a part of your normal insurance. This means you have no way of fixing your home, and your family is stuck with no place to go.
That’s why it’s important to have flood insurance on top of your regular policy. Check out this guide to learn more about what it is and what’s covered under it.
What Is Flood Insurance?
Before we get into what the best flood insurance covers, let’s talk more about what it is. If a storm blows through your area or a river overflows and floods your home, you can get the damages fixed if you have a policy.
The thing about this type of insurance is that it’s not typically covered under a normal homeowner’s policy. That means you’ll have to talk to a flood insurance company to set something up.
Do You Really Need It?
You might be asking, “do I really need flood insurance if I don’t live in an at-risk area?” The answer is yes. The thing about the weather is that it’s unpredictable.
You never know when a terrible hurricane will pass by your home. If you’re not prepared for it, you’ll have to pay for the damages yourself. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
What Does It Cover?
There are two different policies that you can get. One of them will take care of building and structural damages. This includes plumbing, electrical issues, water heaters, built-in appliances, and permanent cabinets.
The other policy covers damage to items. If your clothes are ruined during the flood or your furniture gets destroyed, you’ll be given a sum of money that you can use to replace everything.
The policy you need depends on how much you’re willing to spend and what your priorities are.
What Doesn’t It Cover?
For all the things that flood insurance covers, there’s an equal number of things that it doesn’t. Swimming pools, landscaping, patios, valuable personal documents, money, and personal belongings that you store in the basement are only a few things.
If there’s any mold or mildew left behind, your policy will take care of it unless the flood was caused by something that could have been avoided. For example, if your home floods because you didn’t stay on top of your plumbing, there’s nothing that your policy can do for you.
Keep Yourself and Your Family Protected
Many homeowners make the mistake of not opening up a flood insurance policy. They believe that their regular homeowner’s coverage will handle things, but this can’t be further from the truth.
Flood insurance can be a little limiting on what it covers, but it’s better than nothing. Protect your family and belongings by opening up a policy today.
Are you looking for more ways to keep your home safe from harm? Check out our blog daily for all the latest tips.