4 Solid Reasons to Make Sure You Are Protected By Flood Insurance

Imagine having to evacuate your home following a hurricane or flood warning. With little time to pack, you grabs what is most precious to you, get the family into the car, and head for higher ground. Coming home afterward, you find your home and surrounding area has sustained damage - maybe some of it can be repaired, but there's a good chance you might lose some valuable possessions to storm damage. With flood insurance coverage, however, you may receive due compensation for your losses.

Homeowners who don't live along the shore or in beach areas susceptible to hurricanes may think of flood insurance as an unnecessary expense. What's the point of extra coverage if you live in a land-locked area, right. Well, when you consider that floods are apt to happen anywhere in the world - not just where it's sea level - you may think differently. Homeowners in Tennessee learned the hard way when flooding damaged homes and businesses. If it can happen there, it can happen where you live on a day of heavy rain that encourages water systems and rivers to overflow.

Still not convinced that you should strongly consider a flood insurance policy. Think about this:

1) Getting a policy now is more cost effective than paying to repair damage later. A flood insurance policy could cost you as little as a few hundred dollars a year. Stack this up against loans paid out to those rendered homeless by floods. Pennies a day versus years of paying back money is definitely a no-brainer.

2) Policy holders can experience a quicker relief turnaround. If you have a policy in hand, you might find it easier to get compensation than if you didn't have this kind of insurance. It's not uncommon for people to wait weeks or even months for their insurance companies to deliver checks. Flood insurance makes it easier on you.

3) Your traditional home policies may not cover all damage sustained from flooding. Check with the provider and consider a flood policy where necessary.

4) These policies will not take effect until thirty days after you get one. So if you are sitting at home watching the weather reports and worrying that flood waters are headed your way, getting a last-minute policy will not help you. You need to be prepared well in advance.

Flood insurance can provide peace of mind during a season of bad weather. You may not be able to replace everything lost in a bad storm, but a solid policy can at least help you rebuild in a timely manner.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Norfolk flood insurance and Virginia flood insurance.

http://EzineArticles.com/6375223

Flooding - Reporting a Flood

Flooding isn't defined as one single type, there are actually several types which can be encountered on a daily basis. Reporting these problems to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible means that they will be fixed quicker allowing you to return back to your normal daily routine. Different types of flooding have different authorities who deal with them. This guide is aimed at helping you to understand the different types of flooding and who exactly is in charge of resolving them.

Main River or from Watercourses

Contact: The Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency should be notified as soon as any river or watercourse starts to overflow. The Environment Agency also provide a 24hr 'Floodline' for information and advice.

Should your property be adjoined to a river or watercourse, you are then responsible for the maintenance of the banks, verges as well as keeping it free from debris. If you fail to do this and it leads to the damage of other properties, you could be held liable for lack of maintenance contributable to flooding.

Flooding isn't defined as one single type, there are actually several types which can be encountered on a daily basis. Reporting these problems to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible means that they will be fixed quicker allowing you to return back to your normal daily routine. Different types of flooding have different authorities who deal with them. This guide is aimed at helping you to understand the different types of flooding and who exactly is in charge of resolving them.

Burst Water Mains

Contact: The local water supplier - details of who the local water supplier is can be found at the Water UK website.

The local water supplier is responsible for your water supply and pipes which also include the stopcock on the boundary of your property. If the flooding originates from within your property, then you are in charge of contacting a plumber to resolve the problem (or the landlord if applicable). Should the flooding spread to neighbouring properties and cause damage, you are then held accountable and you could be liable for compensation claims.

Drains and Roads

Contact: Local authorities in charge of road maintenance - details of who to contact in your local area can be found on the Directgov website.

Notifying the local council (who have copies of all sewage and drainage systems) will enable them to contact the utility provider responsible for maintaining public drains and sewers. Direct details of the utility providers can also be found on the Water UK website (see above). Alternatively, some sewers and drainage are owned privately therefore making the property owners using them liable for maintenance. Seeing as these situations can arise at any time, it is best to check with you insurance provider that you are covered for flooding.

Insurance

Floods can arise at any time for any reason, therefore it is best to ensure that you have the appropriate home insurance. For those who live within an area at a greater risk of flooding, obtaining the necessary insurance cover can be somewhat difficult. Insurers perceive these areas to be 'high risk' and try to avoid providing coverage for this reason. However, there are a number of insurance providers will to provide the appropriate insurance coverage where need irrespective of your situation.

It is best to shop around when looking for flooding insurance. Never settle on the first price your are offered as their could be another provider who can provide you with better cover for a better price.

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Flood Insurance Quote - Do Your Research

Images of the floods which had such a heart-wrenching impact on Queensland and Victoria earlier in the year, really stick in your mind. It's a big reminder of the all-consuming strength of nature, & the very real importance of our property and ourselves, all of the time. If you live in a flood-prone area, insurance will offer some peace of mind that your home or business, which you spent many years establishing, will be protected if the unthinkable happens. If you're currently looking for a flood insurance quote, then here are a few points to ponder on.

One fact you should be aware of, is that a lot of standard home & contents packages from an insurance agent, do not cover floods. water damage caused by something in your home malfunctioning, maybe. Not floods, though. It's important to check policies you currently have very carefully. See if you're covered for floods. If you aren't, and you're in a house that could be flooded, it would be worth investigating your options. As your friends and colleagues as this can be useful, and you can also start researching what insurance companies have in the way of flood insurance.

The other vital consideration when looking for a flood insurance quote, is that there are different types of flood coverage. Companies and policies vary, as is normal, but as a guideline, the main definitions will include the following: Flash Flooding is stormwater and/or rain water run-off and flash flooding refers to flooding which is the result of a brief, but intense, storm producing immediate area flooding; river or inland flooding is flooding produced when rivers, creeks or dams go out of their banks after a prolonged rainfall; and storm surge aka sea level rise, means flooding caused by rising ocean water.

To obtain insurance coverage that's tailored for your own particular circumstances, read up on your many options & contact several insurance companies for a flood insurance quote. When you have several providers in mind, you can start policy comparisons, inclusions & costs. It's vital that you're careful when reading the relevant information, in order to ensure you know to the letter, what insurance you are getting. Mother Nature doesn't come with any guarantees, but excellent insurance coverage will offer some certain peace of mind. It's hard to ignore the things that Mother Nature may let loose on us occasionally, but with good flood insurance you will have peace of mind in at least that area!

Jenny writes about a flood insurance quote, travel, fitness, and many other things she's had experience with.

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What Is the Claims Process for Disaster Victims?

The Five Steps to Recovering Your Life After Your Home and Life Have Been Destroyed

Why use a Public Insurance Adjuster?

1. Read everything carefully before you sign anything. Your insurance company's representatives will first present you with emergency money - for immediate needs and shelter. The second round of payouts is where you need to be careful. Do not sign anything that limits your rights to seek additional proceeds.

2. Find a copy of your insurance policy. If it is destroyed or is not accessible, you should be able to get a full copy of the original insurance policy with all of its endorsements from the agent who sold you the coverage.

3. Make sure your family is safe. Most insurance policies include language that enables you to find a residence similar to your existing one. Find a hotel or rental home close to work or your kids' school that is adequate in size and clean and comfortable. Find a place similar in size and accommodations to your previous residence.

4. Get some professional help. Insurance companies hire and train their adjusters to represent the interests of the insurance company and ultimately, its investors. In many instances those adjusters do a great job helping their policyholders. However, sometimes their adjusters are too keenly focused on the bottom line of the insurance company instead of paying the policyholder what they are rightly due under the terms of their insurance policy. If you have doubts about what your insurance company is telling you, or you are simply do not have enough time and expertise to completely value and settle your claim, contact a professional that will work for you and will only represent your best interests.

5. If you go it alone, go slowly and take your time. The insurance company may pressure you to speed up the process - you may be anxious to put all of this behind you as quickly as possible in order to get back to your life, but you need to resist that urge. In these types of cases, especially with homes that have many improvements and renovations, or with families with lots of possessions, haste definitely makes waste. Take your time and carefully review each and every document before signing anything. If you don't agree with the estimates for repair or replacement provided by your insurance provider, fight back.

Why use a Public Insurance Adjuster.

In many cases, the Public Adjuster is able to get more money from the Insurance Company than you will be able to on your own. Even after deducting the Public Adjuster's small percentage fee (much less than using a lawyer), you will probably still come out ahead.

For most families affected by a disaster, the biggest advantage of using a Public Insurance Adjuster is that they can get back to living their life while a professional handles all of the details. Instead of spending 20 hours or more a week, researching replacement and rebuilding costs, analyzing and completing various forms, and negotiating with insurance company adjusters and restoration experts, the Public Adjuster can do all of that. This means you can get back to your family life. Normalcy and a return to a routine schedule will greatly help you and your family adjust and move on.

For many, the time savings and the emotional satisfaction of having a professional handle the minutiae and painful negotiations is much more important than whatever added funds the adjuster is able to get for them. It's more than just the money.

http://www.qualityclaims.com/

Ron Reitz is president of San Diego-based Quality Claims Management Corp., a nationally licensed public insurance adjuster, providing hazard claim recovery services to investors, mortgage servicers, homeowners and businesses. Earlier, he pioneered the national hazard insurance claims business of GMAC-RFC (now GMAC-ResCap). He is the past president of the California Association of Public Insurance Adjusters and currently serves on the board of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. Contact Quality Claims Management at (866) 45-1183 or http://www.qualityclaims.com/.

http://EzineArticles.com/6424662

An Inexpensive and Effective Alternative to Flood Insurance

Are you looking for an inexpensive alternative to flood insurance? If so, look no further than the sump pump. The "sump" is a reservoir, usually located in the lowest level of your basement, where excess water drains and is then "pumped" outside, away from the home. Put these two functions together and what do you get? A sump pump!

The Sump Value

Sump pumps are valuable for a number of reasons. When groundwater levels rise due to heavy rain, these pumps expel water flowing indoors far enough away from your home to avoid water damage. They can also rid a basement of any water that rises upward from an oversaturated ground supply. Whether water enters your basement from above- or below-ground, they can keep your basement dry. In this way, they are a great and inexpensive alternative to flood insurance, which, in some areas of the country, can cost more than a thousand dollars each year.

Why Stay Dry?

Why is it important to keep a basement dry? A basement is considered "wet" if there is a small amount of moisture, such as condensation on the walls or windows, or if there is a more immediate issue, such as standing water. Either scenario can cause serious problems for both your home and your health.

Wet basements often result in mold growth, unpleasant smells, and structural damage. It is important to keep a basement dry so that your entire home (including the basement) is a safe and livable environment free from mold and mildew, and so that the integrity of your home's foundation is not compromised. Sump pumps are especially important in areas with wet climates or areas prone to bursts of heavy rain.

Types of Sumps

There are many types of pumps available for homeowners. The TripleSafe? sump pump system includes three pumps, which provide continuous flood protection in the event that one pump fails or there is too much water for a single pump to handle. If a storm is so powerful that your power goes out, you can rest easy knowing that the UltraSump® Battery Backup sump pump will keep your home protected. The UltraSump can expel more than 11,000 gallons of water from a crawl space!

Speaking of the crawl space, if your home's crawl space is the place where flooding usually occurs, the SmartSump? crawl space sump pump system provides superior flood protection. It also includes a vapor barrier system to keep your crawl space dry and healthy. You can even connect a dehumidifier hose directly to the SmartSump crawl space sump pump system to ensure the highest level of protection.

Why?

Why pay hundreds of dollars a year (or more) on flood insurance when you can install a safe, reliable, and effective sump pump that will provide year-round flood protection? A basement without one is susceptible to flooding, mold, and moisture buildup. It's time to determine which type of pump best suits your home, budget, and climate, so that you can rest easy during the next heavy rain!

Contact the experts at Basement systems, Inc. for more information about sump pumps and for a free estimate for basement waterproofing and crawl space repair.

http://EzineArticles.com/6342699

Fire And Flood Insurance - The Most Common Insurances

While you may well expect an earthquake in Los Angeles or Haiti and, as such, you'd be in a rush to insure your building, if you own it, maybe you'd not be as eager to insure your building against floods, if it is placed in an area where traditionally they don't take place. But even if Al Gore with his movie 'An Inconvenient Truth' hasn't succeeded to convince you as regards global warming, climate changes have become pretty obvious for everyone, so it's hard to dismiss them. Catastrophic floods have been witnessed in places where they don't usually happen, like in France or Germany.

And besides, they don't have to be natural, a banal water leak may lead to the flooding of your entire building, and, if it has as catastrophic an impact, what does it matter if the flooding is natural or accidental? After all, insurances are meant for effects, not for causes.

As regards fires, it works pretty much in the same way. While entire forests may get on fire, like in Portugal, for instance, in urban areas, fires are rather accidental than natural, being due to short-circuits, electrical appliances left unmonitored, wire defects or simply human errors. But exactly as you don't want to see your building transforming into a pile of rubble and mud, you don't want to see it reduced to a pile of ashes. So given that fires and flooding are so likely to happen, fire and flood insurances are proportionally common.

Even if they might not endanger the building itself, being rather local, for your business, the contents or stock may be as vital and their destruction as catastrophic. While arguably the IT hardware is by no means as expensive as the said building, if you are an IT company and your very activity hangs on the said hardware, then it is priceless for you, regardless of the actual price of the physical object. On the same lines, if you are a restaurant owner, your old French wines and the rare truffles for which your establishment is sought by important customers may be for you worth an entire building because, if you lose the custom, you will lose your business. As such, you have to insure your building, contents and stock at least against the most frequent enemies - fire and water.

Even so, if you don't have professional indemnity insurance and your customers get directly affected while on your premises, you may lose everything by being sued afterward, even if your contents and stock remain intact.

As a professional firm or practice you will need professional indemnity insurance often as a mandatory requirement of your institute, your client and to protect yourself and your business.

http://EzineArticles.com/6013580

Take Out Flood Insurance For Your Home

For the most part, people who own houses always have some kind of insurance that they tale out for their houses just in case calamity strikes. But for those people who live in areas that are prone to flooding or near the water have to take out additional flood insurance since well, their homes are indeed very prone to flooding and everyone knows how damaging those flood waters can be. There is just no reason for these people not to get flood insurance since doing so might make them vulnerable to high repair costs where their houses are concerned.

Everyone is aware that weather patterns are changing drastically and this has meant that in some places, the flood map has shown some signs of expanding. Now, first thing that you have to know is that insurance companies are for the most part businesses and they will want to make money so in some instances, getting flood risk insurance has been close to impossible for some people or, if not impossible, they do end up paying quite a steep price for it. There are even some companies that just flat out refuse to cover the flood insurance for those people whose properties fall in flood prone areas.

But rest assured that there are some companies out there that still offer flood risk insurance to homeowners that live in flood prone areas. What they do is before they give you an approval, they first assess your house and the risks before they approve anything but there is a chance that they will approve your insurance so that is always good news for homeowners. They do this because there are some instances that houses do fall in flood prone areas but are located on top of hills so the chances of that house getting flooded are pretty much slim to none.

Those people who live in flood prone areas can also learn a thing or two about safety from these companies that go out of their way to offer you top service as well as a good insurance coverage. They will teach you various techniques that you may use in cases of floods so that you can help minimize the damage to your house or yourself just in case there is a flood.

Insurance is very important when you are a homeowner but what is more important is that you get an assessment for the type of insurance that you will need.

For further details on flood insurance please visit our website that is designed to compare flood risk insurance quotes with leading UK brokers and insurers.

http://EzineArticles.com/6500297

Buy Flood Insurance Before It Is Too Late - Noah Knew That

When did Noah build the ark? Before the flood right, yes, and that was his insurance to save all the Earth species, as the story goes. Likewise, before the flood is when you ought to buy flood insurance as well. You can't just watch the news and see that there is a big storm coming, or a Hurricane is going to hit the shoreline near you, or perhaps there are 4-storms lined up back-to-back and you live next to a levee on the Missouri or Mississippi - it doesn't work that way - no matter how much you wish it could.

Further, getting flood insurance in some areas is impossible, as no one is offering it. And the Federal Flood Insurance program, if you are involved in that, it could be quite costly, so you might wish to look into all that by going to the Federal National Insurance Flood Program Website.

Channel 7 ABC News in Los Angeles put out a news alert on May 14, 2011 and story titled; "Mississippi River Floodgate Opens - The Morganza spillway has opened for the first time since 1973 to drain the swelling of the Mississippi River" and the article and news segment stated;

"A 10-ton, steel emergency floodgate has been opened for the first time in nearly four decades to drain the swelling of the Mississippi River. About 25,000 folks and 11,000 structures could be in harm's way when the Morganza spillway unlocked. Water to submerge about 3,000 square miles, and in some areas water levels could put the ground under 25 feet of water."

Indeed, within a few hours the news was on every single major news station, but guess what? If the government opens the flood gates and purposely allows one area to flood out to save an entire city down river, or protect a large levee from being breached in this case - there are generally clauses in the flood insurance contract which void the flood insurance company's obligations to pay a flood claim on your home or business.

Now then, FEMA may provide temporary housing, money, or offer a low-cost loan to help the people in the area get back on their feet. Of course, this isn't the same as having flood insurance. Remember you need to be fully insured before the rainy season, because once it starts you may not be able to get coverage in time. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 23,200 articles by May 15, 2011 is difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off..

http://EzineArticles.com/6269436

Frequently Asked Questions: Water Damage Remediation

You come home and you find your floor is full of water. You identify the source and stop the leak. Then you grab your wet/dry vacuum cleaner and suck up all the excess water. There are still a few damp area and it smells kind of musty so you open the window and will nature take its course. In your mind your Do-it-Yourself attitude just saved you a ton of money. Case closed.

The Do-it-Yourself attitude is admirable and the laudable hallmark of American culture but such attitude can prove to be, as in this case, misguided and have potential long term health and financial consequences.

Issue 1: Using a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to extract the water

Problem 1: This extraction usually does not extract all the moisture from the affected area

Why this matters to you1: The remaining water can promote structural decay and be a catalyst for mold.

Issue 2: Opening widow to dry naturally

Problem 2: In hot, humid regions, such as FL, the sweltering heat can actually prevent evaporation

Why this matters to you2: This prevents drying and is an IDEAL condition for accelerated mold growth.

Issue 3: Employing Do-it-Yourself to save money

Problem 3: In many cases, the honorable and honest Do-it-Yourself attempt ends up costing more money

Why this matters to you3: Losing money is bad no matter how you look at it. The potential savings can be offset by having to redo the work and the need for special equipment that is used one time.

Why should I care about Mold?

It is well established that exposure to certain types of mold are well known to have serious health effects in humans. It is certainly not in the interest of anyone to be exposed to mold.

OK, so I'll hire a carpet cleaning company to get rid of my water.

This is a logical step as the typical carpet cleaner will have access to better commercial vacuum equipment than the homeowner but this logic fails in two main areas, cost and ability. Trying to save money by hiring a carpet cleaner can have negative budgetary impact depending on the company used and time involved. While many carpet cleaners are exceptional at their trade and are, usually, worth every penny, carpet cleaners do not know how to remove water from walls, monitor and control ambient moisture, and other such concerns of a professional water damage remediation company.

So how can I get rid of this water and save money?

The best way of getting rid of water damage, preventing or eliminating exposure to mold, and saving money is by hiring a professional water damage restoration company. An independent, professional water damage restoration company is professionally trained and intra-industry certified to thoroughly and professionally handle all aspects of structural drying, odor control, mold handling and removal, and other relevant water damage restoration considerations. More importantly, in many cases, such services can be done at NO or little cost to the property owner using methods including direct insurance billing.

So why pay out of pocket and do the work yourself when the professionals can do the work for you at little to no cost? It's a no brainer.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K.

Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118.

Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

http://EzineArticles.com/6454406

4 Huge Risks When It Comes to Water Damage in Crawlspaces

Flood damage to a basement or crawl space can be a potential nightmare to cleanup as it poses several different risks. Most homeowners never enter their basement for even several years at a time and are often clueless about how to go about doing water restoration work in a basement or crawlspace. While water extraction or water removal can be somehow managed by a homeowner in their basement, water restoration to crawlspaces will be very difficult.

In either case, it is highly recommended that homeowners seek the help of a professional water damage company to carry out the restoration work in their basement or crawlspace as self restoration work in the basement poses several safety and technical challenges.

Risk of electrocution and natural gas poisoning - Many a home will have the electrical wiring and natural gas pipes routed through the basement. Extensive flood damage in the basement can pose a risk of electrocution or gas poisoning. Only a contractor will know what precautions to take before actually carrying out water extraction work in the basement or crawlspace.Risk of mold and potential damage to the structure of the building - Humidity levels are very high in basements and crawlspaces which will mean that water damage can easily result in extensive mold damage. Mold is a very serious problem that can pose both health risks to the people living in a property as well as physical damage to the construction materials of a property. Only a professional water damage company will be able to fully analyze the moisture levels and potential mold problems in your basement and take preventative or reactionary measures accordingly.Risk of being bitten in the basement - The basement is often home to poisonous spiders, snakes and scorpions. A seasoned contractor will often wear protective clothing to protect himself from potentially fatal bites. In addition to the creepy crawlies in the basement, there is also a risk of exposure to accumulated radon gas which the contractor will tackle by wearing a gas mask.Risk of improper water extraction in the basement or crawlspace - One would have to be very careful about the water removal techniques when pumping out water from a basement space. This is because the walls of a basement can collapse if the water is pumped out too quickly. This will happen because of dramatic change in pressure on the walls.In conclusion, it is best that you seek the services of a good, reputable water damage company to carry out restoration work in your basement or crawlspace.

Daniel Camara is the owner of PuroClean Home Rescue, a restoration and mitigiation company that specializes in Water Damage, Fire Damage, Mold and Odor Removal. Puroclean is one of the largest property mitigation and restoration professional service firms in the country. With nearly 300 offices across the U.S., we respond to all emergencies immediately.

If you need any helpful advice on property restoration please visit us on our website at waterdamageout.com or contact us from the contact page.

http://EzineArticles.com/6122679

Emergency Water Damage Cleanup - Here's What You Need to Know

Your home can be damaged by water seepage from a number of different causes. Some of the most common causes of water damage to homes are builder and contractor negligence. Leaky pipes and blocked drains can make water seep indoors and cause damage to the interiors. Sometimes, natural disasters like floods, storms or hurricanes can also cause a lot of damage.

If you want to arrest and minimize the damage done to your home, you need to hire the services of emergency water damage cleanup experts. The sooner the problem is attended to, the lesser the damage to your home. The cost of cleanup would also be less if the problem is dealt with as early as possible. Water damage is not a pretty sight. It could be an eye sore to see your beautiful home marred by leaking water and floating debris. Even if the water leaks from a pure water source like a faucet, it can often get mixed with dirt and grime embedded inside joints and under carpets. This can soil the walls and other furnishings, making it more difficult to clean up the mess.

Water seeping through the walls or ceiling could also be dangerous as it can come in contact with electrical wiring. You might receive an electrical shock just by touching the walls. It is wise to turn off the power first and ensure that the rooms are safe enough to enter into. You then need to locate the source of leakage and arrest it as quickly as possible. Damp walls can also become a breeding ground for mold. This can damage the walls even further. Mold can make the cleanup process more difficult and complicated. It is therefore necessary to attend to the problem at the very earliest.When you contact your local emergency cleanup service, you should ensure that they provide 24/7 emergency service. Unless they are accessible round the clock, you may not be able to get in touch with them in an emergency.

Water damage most often gives rise to other problems like soiled carpets, dampness of walls and a lot of mess, especially if the sewer was the source of leakage. The water cleanup agency should also be able to offer all other related damage restoration services like carpet cleaning, carpet repair, carpet re-stretching, rug cleaning, dehumidifying, disinfecting, drying and sewer cleanup. Look for a service that can provide a free estimate. They should send fully certified technicians to your premises within 60 minutes or less. It would help if they also work with insurance companies to help you with claims.

http://EzineArticles.com/6475844