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hings a bit damp in the
basement? Like you have a couple of feet of water, and the rec room is looking like the Titanic
grand ballroom, only a lot less grand?
Well, don't call us—and we won't call you either. That's the attitude of most property insurers.
Let's get to the point: Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.
Muck, slime, drywall crumbling, furniture floating out into the Gulf of Mexico—you're
just not covered. And unless your county is "lucky" enough to be declared a federal disaster by the
president, don't expect any help getting back on your feet.
Even then, federal disaster aid offers only low-interest loans—none of those lovely
insurance checks for you, buster.
Don't believe us? The
Insurance Information Institute's Web site answers "Are you covered for
flood?" with one word. And you won't need a lawyer to decipher this insurance-industry gobbledygook.
The word is "No." The long form of the answer might read, "Floods are a bit too
risky for us!"
So if floodwaters are rising, we suggest you trundle down to your insurance agent and ask
about federally sponsored insurance available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a
branch of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Actually, buy before the water starts rising: With
few exceptions, coverage takes effect 30 days after you pay the first premium.
NFIP coverage is available to businesses, homeowners, and tenants living in almost 19,000
municipalities that participate in the federal flood insurance program. Although those localities have
taken steps to minimize vulnerability to flood damage, some people claim that the insurance promotes
unwise development in flood-prone areas by reducing the risk. In almost every session of Congress,
lawmakers introduce bills to trim or scuttle the flood-insurance program.
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Resources
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About one-quarter
of claims
cover structures
in areas with
"low to moderate"
flood risk.
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On the dry side
While the politicians wrangle, we'll explain the benefits and limitations of NFIP policies, which are
available through private insurers. The policies cover:
- Damage due to floods, defined as
"partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas." Floods may be due to a rapid rise of
surface waters or runoff from heavy rains. Mudslide damage also is covered.
- Floods caused by hurricanes.
- Up to $250,000 for repair or replacement of residential structures (homes,
apartments, and condominiums) and $100,000 for their contents. (Tenants can buy the contents coverage
separately.)
- Up to $500,000 for commercial buildings and $500,000 for their contents.
- Damage from the next flood (there is no limitation on repeat floods at this point).
NFIP insurance does not cover:
- Damage within 30 days of premium payment, unless the coverage was required during a title
transfer or you were replacing an existing flood insurance policy.
- Floods that affect only one house or less than two acres of property.
- Damage from wind-driven rain.
- Personal property and improvements in the basement. However, furnaces and other installed equipment are covered,
and laundry machines are covered in the contents portion of the policy.
- Most circumstances of damage in barrier beaches and similar areas that the Army Corps of Engineers
designates Coastal Barrier Resource Areas.
A decision about coverage depends on your exposure to floods. Nationally, flooding causes an average of
$2 billion in property damage annually. In 1993, however, the great Midwest flood caused far more
damage. Spikes in destruction also follow severe hurricanes.
The odds that any property will need flood insurance depend on elevation and proximity to
water. Broadly, during any 30-year period, NFIP says the average building has a 26% chance of
getting flooded. In contrast—only about 4% of buildings are likely to burn during an average
30-year period.
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Whose problem?
With those odds, you now should understand why insurers sell fire insurance and leave the
flood coverage to Uncle Sam. Those odds also explain the popularity of NFIP, which has about four
million policyholders. NFIP says insurance can be useful even if you don't live within sight of a river
or beach. About one-quarter of claims cover structures in areas with "low to moderate" risk of
flooding.
For low-risk areas, a $100,000 policy will cost slightly more than $100 a year. If you live in
a Special Flood Hazard Area (ask your building or zoning department), you'll be paying closer to $300.
For an idea of the value of flood insurance, the NFIP calculates that you'd fork out $300 a
month to repay a $50,000 federal-disaster loan—every month for 20 years.
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It's our policy
Not every house needs flood insurance. Standard homeowners insurance may cover damage from
broken pipes, for example. If you're plagued by the occasional damp cellar, prevention might be a
better bet. Direct rainwater away from your basement or hire a basement waterproofer instead of paying
an insurance premium.
On the other hand, in some circumstances you must buy flood insurance. If you're getting
federally backed financing to buy property in a Special Flood Hazard Area, you likely will be compelled
to get coverage. This requirement pertains to most types of mortgage loans, including credit union
mortgages, not just those obtained from the Federal Housing Authority and Veterans
Administration.
One final note: If you have federal flood insurance, Uncle Sam will fork over $750 for
sandbags, plastic sheeting, and other levee material if the worst happens. Don't try buying sand with a
standard homeowners policy!
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