Talk to your agent about the risk of water damage to your home, since it isn’t always obvious what your policy actually covers. Some policies treat flood damage differently from water damage caused by a burst pipe. It’s also worth noting that a standard home insurance policy typically doesn’t cover flood risk at all. For flood protection, you’ll need a separate policy.
Water damage from a roof leak during heavy rain isn’t the same as flood damage. Similarly, a mudslide caused by heavy rain isn’t necessarily classified as a flood.
Storm surge from a hurricane presents its own unique risk, and a dam failure that sends water rushing downhill to flood your home represents yet another type of water-related risk.
Know Your Protection Before a Disaster Happens
It’s a safer strategy to discuss all of these water-related risks with your agent at Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency in Scotia, NY, before an incident leaves you without adequate protection.
Climate change has contributed to more severe, more frequent storms and has also led to flooding in areas that were once considered safer. For example, if you’ve owned your home for a long time, you may not have needed flood protection when you first purchased it. But weather patterns and floodplains have shifted over the years, and severe flood events are happening more frequently than they once did.
Don’t be caught unprepared. Instead, talk with your agent and request an insurance review at least once a year, and more often if any significant changes occur.
Reach out to us at Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency in Scotia, NY, for all your flood insurance needs.
