Flood insurance is offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
, and some insurance companies will provide it as well. Water can deal some serious damage
to a car. Floods can sweep cars away, putting the vehicle through some rough conditions along the way. Additionally, water itself can ruin the insides of vehicles and the electrical components of a car. This type of insurance helps protect your home in a case of flooding as part of a natural disaster
. If you want to know how to get flood insurance and file a claim in the event of a flood, Jerry
has put together everything you need to know about flood insurance. Jerry also finds the right coverage for you at the touch of a button–just download the app and you'll be on your way to comparing competitive quotes. Do I need flood insurance?
Even if you have an insurance policy to protect your home, most policies do not offer protection from flooding a source outside of the home. With a flood liable to happen almost anywhere, you need flood insurance to protect your property just in case a flood does take place
. You are especially at risk of flooding if you live in low elevation areas, if you live in an area that receives a lot of rainfall, or if you live near a coastline where hurricanes are common.
One of the good things about flood insurance is that it pays out whether or not a disaster is declared in your area after a flood.
Key Takeaway Flood insurance is recommended even if floods are rare in your area. Just one incident can have a devastating financial impact.
How to get flood insurance
You can get flood insurance from a few places. The first is FEMA through the agency's NFIP. The NFIP works with participating insurance agencies to sell flood insurance to homeowners across the U.S. You might start by checking with the company that insures your home, as an agent there might be able to help you. Otherwise, contact FEMA at the NFIP Referral Call Center at 1-800-427-4661 to get an agent referral.
Some questions to ask about flood insurance when talking to an agent include:
What flood zone do I live in, and what is my property's flood risk?
Am I required to have flood insurance for my property (some lenders require it)?
Do I qualify for any discounts on my flood insurance, such as a Community Rating System (CRS) discount?
What does flood insurance cover?
Is a flood insurance policy I buy backed by the federal government?
What amount of coverage does the agent recommend for my property?
Do I have to pay any additional expenses or fees?
Does my policy pay for the replacement cost value or the actual cash value of my home?
Who do I contact if I need to file a claim?
You must pay for the full year's premium when buying flood insurance, so plan accordingly.
MORE: How to prepare your car for a hurricane
How to file a claim for flood damage
Hopefully you never have to use flood insurance, but eventually you might have to file a flood insurance claim. If you do need to file a claim for flood damage to your home, you can follow the steps below.
Notify your insurance company. Start by notifying your insurer of any flood damage to your property. When filing a claim, you need to have the following information in hand:
The name of your insurance company
Where your agent can reach you (telephone number or email)
Expect an adjuster to contact you within a few days of filing your claim with your insurance agent. You might need to contact your insurance agent if you do not hear from an adjuster within this time frame.
Document any flood damage. After reporting the damage to your agent, you need to document the damage for your own records and to give to the adjuster. To do this, separate damaged from undamaged property and complete the following:
Take pictures of any damaged property, including personal property
, structural damage, and any still-standing flood waters. Compile a list of items lost in the flooding, and take note of such information as date of purchase and the items value. You should also present receipts if possible.
Complete the paperwork. Completing the necessary paperwork represents the final step in the claim process.
This includes a Proof of Loss statement, which the adjuster should help you fill out. This document is a sworn affidavit of the amount of loss you encountered during the flooding.
Don't wait too long to file a Proof of Loss statement, as you only have 60 days to file it with your insurer and is necessary to receive a payout for any losses.
You can protect your property from flooding by getting the appropriate amount of flood insurance. Once you have flood insurance, filing a claim is made easy by following a simple three-step process. If you have any questions about acquiring flood insurance or filing a claim, contact your insurance agent or the NFIP today.
Key Takeaway Notifying your insurance quickly (within 60 days) and with as much information as possible about the extent of your flood damage will help you get the best payout.
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