We’ve all watched with shock and sadness as Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Puerto Rico have been battered by a series of hurricanes that have resulted in massive flooding.
Here in Southern California hurricanes are not as prevalent a threat, though we do get the occasional tropical storm, and some areas experience heavy rains that can cause flooding.
Broken pipes can cause flooding as well. If you catch the problem soon enough and call in an experienced, licensed plumber through our SoCal Plumbers 911 referral network, there will be little chance of any significant damage.
But if a pipe bursts when you’re on vacation? That’s when having flood insurance will come in handy. The odd thing is that these policies will cover water damage to a structure because of a plumbing issue, but may not always cover the after-effects of a natural disaster. If you want to be protected against both, make sure you specify this with your insurance company.
Does everyone need flood insurance? That’s not a decision we can make for you. But if you visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website (www.fema.gov) you can find out if your home is located in a flood zone, and that may impact your choice. Keep in mind, however, that according to FEMA more than 20{9cdc1388e89525a5943a16e5df98a2091a77e8333000024d218808ea2fb4c363} of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
Insurance protection is available for both homeowners and renters. The cost of the policy will vary depending on your home’s perceived level of risk. Most of those in the hurricane-impacted areas of Houston and Florida will receive assistance from FEMA, but a claim against your flood insurance policy often provides more funds for recovery than those you could qualify for from the government.
Just two inches of water can cause thousands of dollars of damage to a home. That’s why it’s important to have a plumber referral service you can trust, that is available 24/7. And it may be a reason to consider flood insurance.
