Approximately 90 percent of natural disasters include flooding. That means that all homeowners should be proactive in considering what severe flooding might mean for them. According to FEMA, single-family homeowners who experience flood damage end up with a median of nearly $500,000 in repair estimates. Some of these repair costs might be covered by insurance, but you will likely need to supplement your regular homeowner’s insurance to ensure that you have the coverage you need.
What are some of the most important things to know about the flooding Nebraska residents may be at risk of? How do you make sure that your home is sufficiently protected from flooding and other water damage?
What’s the Difference Between Flood Damage and Other Water Damage?
Any water damage has the potential to require costly repairs, but weather-related flooding often causes significantly more extensive damage.
Flood damage occurs very quickly and is something a homeowner has no control over. Some examples could be extremely heavy rain or a large amount of snow that melts quickly. These floods can be far more serious if they are located near a river or large lake. Water can overflow and spread over many blocks. Flooding usually cannot be prevented, and measures to reduce its impact tend to be moderately or minimally effective.
Water damage from within your home often happens slowly and involves less water than flood damage. Problems such as leaking pipes or overflowing sinks are often caused by a lack of maintenance or human error.
Typical Flooding Risks in Our Area
Nebraska and South Dakota are prone to several types of flooding that homeowners need to be aware of, especially in the spring. The large, beautiful rivers and lakes in our area can potentially become a threat when large amounts of snow melt quickly or in heavy storms. Even homeowners who do not live close to water can experience flash flooding during heavy rain. Broken dams can also lead to unexpected flooding.
What specific flood hazards does your home face? You can enter your address to FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center to learn more.
Understanding Flood Insurance
Many homeowners assume that their regular homeowner’s insurance will cover any type of damage to their home. However, most basic policies specifically exclude flood coverage. This is especially common for homeowners who choose to live in an area with known high flood risk, such as next to a river or lake, or anywhere in a state that is prone to hurricanes. However, approximately 40 percent of flood insurance claims do not come from high-risk areas. This can mean that homeowners may have a difficult time getting the compensation they expect with a standard policy.
Affordability
Most Nebraska residents compensate for this lack of coverage by adding a flood insurance premium to their homeowner’s insurance. The national median of this premium generally costs around $500 per year (about $42/month). The exact amount is determined by assessing specific known risks associated with the location of your home. Your premium will likely be a bit higher if your home is in a known flood zone. In any case, you would still spend far less than the approximately $20,000 in damage that even one inch of flood water can cause.
The Best Time to Get Coverage
It’s a bit like the saying that when the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now. The best time to get a flood insurance policy is as soon as possible.
It is important to note that you cannot wait until you are expecting severe weather to purchase flood insurance coverage. Most policies typically require a waiting period of approximately 30 days before benefits will go into effect.
Choose Northeast Nebraska Insurance to Protect Your Home
At Northeast Nebraska Insurance, we are here to help answer any insurance questions you may still have. Our team provides recommendations for how much flood insurance you should consider purchasing based on exactly where you live and what risk factors might impact you. Contact us today to learn more about the importance of protecting your home and your belongings with flood insurance. Visit us at any of our eleven locations to discuss the details of your situation with an independent agent.