WHAT IS A FLOOD LOSS AVOIDANCE?
Flood loss avoidance is a protective action taken to minimize flood damage and losses to buildings and personal property before a flood occurs.
WHAT’S COVERED UNDER A STANDARD FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY?
National Flood Insurance Program flood policies will cover up to $1,000 in reasonable expenses incurred to protect a policyholder’s insured property, and up to $1,000 to move the policyholder’s insured property away from a flood or imminent danger of a flood. To be eligible for this benefit, the insured property must be located in a community where:
- a general condition of flooding in the area exists; or
- an official has issued an evacuation order or other civil order for the community requiring measures to preserve life and property from flooding.
WHAT IS ELIGIBLE?
EXPENSES TO PROTECT PROPERTY
- Sandbags (including the sand to fill them)
- Fill to create temporary levees.
- Water pumps.
- Plastic sheeting and lumber used in connection with any of these items listed above.
- Labor – a policyholder may claim labor, including their own or a family member’s labor,
- at the federal minimum wage. Labor charged by a professional may also be reimbursed.
EXPENSES TO MOVE PROPERTY TO SAFETY
- Up to $1,000 for the reasonable expense to move insured property in order to protect it from flood, or the imminent danger of flood.
WHAT DO POLICYHOLDERS NEED TO KNOW?
- Personal property that is moved must be placed in a fully enclosed building or otherwise protected from the elements.
- Any property removed, including a moveable home (that meets the definition of a building in the flood policy), must be placed above ground level or outside of the special flood hazard area.
- Property removed is covered by a policyholder’s flood policy for 45 consecutive days from the date the move begins.
- A deductible does not apply to these limits.
- The coverage does not increase the policy limits of the liability.
PAID RECEIPTS
Policyholders should keep copies of all receipts and a record of the time spent performing the work. They should be submitted to their insurance adjuster when they file a claim to be reimbursed.
HOW TO REPORT A FLOOD CLAIM
- To report a claim policyholders should do the following:
- Contact their flood insurance agent or insurance company. Have policy number available.
- If a policyholder does not have their policy number, they can call 1-800-427-4661. They will need the following information with them when calling:
- The name of their insurance company.
- The date of their flood loss.
- Their name, telephone number, and e-mail address. If they do not have access to a phone or email, provide the name and telephone number of someone who can reach them.
www.SuzanneBrownAgency.com
281-558-2210