Flood insurance The National Flood Insurance Program is the only game in town. But there's still a lot you need to know. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The mid-Atlantic Region is awash in flood waters Monday after heavy rains pounded the area. In today's top tips we'll tell you what you need to know when it comes to protecting your home. 1: Assess your Risk Flooding is the most costly natural disaster in the United States, but only about 1 in 4 homes in high-risk areas carry this kind of insurance. Just because you may not live near a body of water, doesn't mean you can escape the risk of flooding. "One-third of claims we see come from people who live outside flood zones," says Sue Nestor of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIAB). To assess your risk, check out the National Flood Insurance Program's Web site at www.floodsmart.gov or call (888) 379-9531. If you plug in some information on your home, you'll get a flood insurance quote. While you can buy flood insurance through the same insurance agent that sold your homeowners insurance policy, you may want to find out some flooding estimates on your own. This Web site will also give you a list of flood insurance agents in your area. Keep in mind that if you are moving to a high-risk flood zone, like beachfront property, getting flood insurance may be mandatory in order to get a mortgage. 2: Know your rights The National Flood Insurance program is in trouble. The program is swamped by $25 billion in claims from Hurricane Katrina and two other hurricanes last fall. That's more than it's made in its 38-year history. So why should you invest in a flood insurance program that's basically bankrupt? Not only is the NFIP the only game in town, but it can borrow money from the U.S. Treasury to pay claims. And as a consumer, if you buy flood insurance, you have a legal right to get paid. 3: Get the limits The National Flood Insurance Program has its limits. You can get coverage of up to $250,000 for the house and $100,000 for what's inside it. Some homeowners may find that the National Flood Insurance is just not enough. If you want more coverage, you can get extra flooding insurance through private companies. American International Group, for example, lets policyholders insure their property up to its full value. Premiums start at $1,200 for $1 million in coverage in an excess flood policy, but could vary widely. Check out www.aig.com . Chubb Insurance offers excess flood insurance at premiums of $1,000 for $1 million in coverage. Go to www.chubb.com for more information. Remember that flood insurance covers damage resulting from rising water from outside the house. So a leaky bathtub, broken pipes or sewer back-ups won't be covered. 4: Take inventory You'll want to be prepared to document your losses when disaster strikes...so take inventory of your valuables Get an inventory checklist from your insurance company, or download one from the Insurance Information Institute at www.iii.org This list will help you think about contents that may have been in your basement. The more information you have about your damaged possessions, including the make and model or a description of the item, the faster your claim generally can be settled. 5: Don't Delay If you've turned on the TV and you see a hurricane barreling toward your community, it may be too late to be covered by flood insurance. While you can buy flood insurance at any time, there is a 30-day waiting period after you have already applied and paid the premium before coverage takes effect. ______________________ Gerri's Mailbox: We want to hear from you! Send your questions to 5tips@cnn.com. Each week, we'll give answers on CNN, Headline News and CNNMoney.com. |
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