Floods can happen at any time and without warning. They cause structural damage to houses, vehicles—even buildings. The cost of repairing or replacing essential property could be prohibitive for many homeowners. That is why it's important to take out flood insurance before your home suffers significant water damage due to an unfortunate event.

Flood insurance is a type of property insurance that can cover your building and its contents if damaged or destroyed due to a flood caused by heavy rain, storm surges, blocked storm drainage systems, or levee dam failure. While not every homeowner needs flood insurance, it may be a wise investment regardless of where you live. According to The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), more than 25% of homeowners who have filed a flood damage claim do not even live in a flood zone.

You will need flood insurance if you live in a designated flood zone. But flooding can also occur in inland areas and away from major rivers. Consider buying a flood insurance policy if your house could be flooded by melting snow, an overflowing creek or pond, or water running down a steep hill.

Flood insurance is available for renters and homeowners, but, like earthquake insurance, it is not part of standard homeowners coverage. Instead, flood policies are provided separately by the federal government and dozens of private insurers.

If you think you need flood insurance, don’t wait for a flood season warning on the evening news to buy a policy. There is a 30-day waiting period before the coverage takes effect for National Flood Insurance Program policies.

It might be time to switch insurers whenever the service that your existing insurer provides doesn’t meet your needs. For example, if you have a poor claims experience or an unexplained rate increase, it might be time to consider other options

If you cancel a previous policy before a new policy is effective, you could run into some serious financial problems.

Contact us today to help you with multiple options to choose from.