Flood insurance is not part of basic homeowners insurance.
Many policyholders do not realize that basic homeowners insurance does not include protection from flood damage. Instead, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers flood insurance through a federal program. Flood insurance may be purchased as a separate policy.
Many people mistakenly believe that if a flood were to hit, standard homeowner's insurance would cover the cost to recover. It doesn't. National Flood Insurance does, for an average cost of about $1 a day, depending on where you live and the coverage you choose.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a federally subsidized program that is available to any property owner whether or not the building is in a floodplain. Insurance is sold through a private insurance agent who wants to sell it in a community who has joined the program. The NFIP is based on an agreement between local communities and the federal government which states that if a community will implement measures to reduce future flood risks to new construction or substantial re-construction, the federal government will make flood insurance available within the community as financial protection against flood losses which do occur.
How do you know if your home is vulnerable to flood?
FLOODS CAN AND DO HAPPEN IN HIGH-, MEDIUM- AND LOW-RISK FLOOD ZONES.
One never knows where or when a flood will strike. They often accompany other natural disasters such as storms, hurricanes, early snowmelts, and rising rivers. Plus, the construction of roads, shopping malls, residential and industrial complexes reduces the land's natural ability to absorb water, which increases runoff and the risk of flooding. About 25% of all flood insurance claims come from outside high-risk areas.
Flood insurance is affordable.
Flood insurance is actually quite affordable. But that has yet to increase its popularity. According to insure.com, only one-quarter of the most vulnerable homes are insured, even though statistics have shown that their homes are much more likely to be flooded than be destroyed by fire.
Prices depend entirely on the amount of coverage you wish to purchase and the area where your home is located. Coverage choices can include insuring the contents of your home as well as the structure of the building.
What does flood insurance cover?
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING COVERAGE - Residential Policies*
Building coverage insures a house or dwelling, attached and detached garages, as well as certain permanently installed fixtures such as built-in dishwashers, permanent shelving and cabinetry, furnaces and radiators, hot-water heaters, plumbing fixtures, stoves, ovens and refrigerators.
*For details about what National Flood Insurance covers, contact your company or agent.
COVERAGE IN BASEMENTS
National Flood Insurance covers structural elements, essential equipment and other basic items normally located in a basement, such as:
- Unfinished drywall for walls and ceilings, including nonflammable insulation
- Electrical junction and circuit breaker boxes, and required utility connections
- Central air-conditioning units
- Furnaces, hot-water heaters, fuel tanks and the fuel inside them, and heat pumps
- Light fixtures
- Foundation elements
- Cleanup.
However, National Flood Insurance doesn't cover basement improvements such as finished walls, floors or ceilings, or personal belongings that may be kept in a basement, such as furniture and other contents.
RESIDENTIAL CONTENTS COVERAGE
Contents coverage insures most of your personal property and belongings, including:
- Clothing
- Furniture, housewares, bedding
- Decorative items, lamps and lighting fixtures
- Books, home electronics
- Area rugs and draperies
- Clothes washers and dryers
- Air conditioners
- Food freezers and the food in them
- Portable microwave ovens
How much coverage can be obtained?
The maximum coverage available for contents is $100,000 for residential policies and $500,000 for commercial policies.
How do I buy flood insurance?
To buy a National Flood Insurance policy, call your insurance agent or contact one of the Write Your Own (WYO) insurance companies, private insurance companies that write flood insurance under a special arrangement with the Federal government. If your agent does not write flood insurance or if you don't have an agent, call the NFIP's toll-free number to obtain the name of an agent in your area who does write flood insurance. The number is 1-888-RAIN 924 (724-6924) or the main number: 888-379-9531.
Who is eligible for National Flood Insurance?
Homeowners, renters and business owners with property in communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program can purchase flood insurance. Currently, more than 19,000 communities in the United States and its territories participate in the NFIP by adopting and enforcing ordinances designed to reduce flood damage.
How long until my flood insurance goes into effect?
There is usually a 30-day waiting period, after applying and paying the premium, before the flood insurance policy becomes effective. Ask your insurance agent if there are any exceptions in your case. Do not wait until the rain starts to think about flood insurance.
You can purchase flood coverage at anytime; however, a flood policy does not cover a loss in progress. A loss in progress is one already happening as of 12:01 A.M. of the first day of the policy term.
Coverage is available for homeowners, renters, business owners, and condominium associations and owners.
Homeowners:
Up to $250,000 of building coverage and $100,000 of contents coverage are available to protect your home and its contents.
Condominium Associations and Owners:
Condominium associations can purchase flood insurance coverage on a residential building under the Residential Condominium Building Association Policy. Under this policy, condominium associations can purchase up to $250,000 times the number of units or the replacement cost of the building, whichever is less. This way, coverage is provided for each unit without the burden of purchasing policies for each unit separately. Eligible buildings include garden apartment-type construction, town houses, row houses, and single-family detached buildings owned by the association, as long as 75% of the units are used for residential purposes. Residents of the individual units are then advised to purchase contents coverage separately-up to $100,000-to ensure that their personal property will be covered. 
Renters:
You don't have to own your own house or apartment to protect your contents from floodwaters. Up to $100,000 of NFIP contents coverage is available to renters of insurable property in a community participating in the NFIP.
FEMA - Frequently Asked Questions about Flood Insurance
updated 02/2012 |
Colorado flood facts:
Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural hazards. Some floods develop slowly, but flash floods can happen in just minutes.
Floodprone areas have been identified in 267 cities and towns and in all of the 64 counties in Colorado.
Over 250,000 people are living in Colorado’s floodplains. There are estimated to be 65,000 homes and 15,000 commercial, industrial, and business structures in identified floodplains. There are likely many more structures located within unmapped flood hazard areas. The value of the property, structures, and contents located in the identified floodplains is estimated to be over 11 billion dollars (1996). Average annual flood losses in Colorado are estimated to be $17,600,000 in property damage based on data from 1896 to 1984. |
Historic Floods
in Colorado
1965 - 1999
May-June 1999
Colorado Springs and
12 Eastern Counties
Estimated Loss:
$100,000,000
July 1997
Fort Collins and
13 Eastern Counties
Loss: $169,367,000
May-June 1993
Western Slope
Loss: $2,140,000
May-June 1984
Western and
Northwestern Counties
Loss $46,500,000
June 1983
North Central Counties
Loss $26,250,000
July 1982
Fall River at Estes Park
Loss: $49,080,000
July 1976
Big Thompson River
in Larimer County
Loss: $85,200,000
May 1973
South Platte River
at Denver
Loss: $388,800,000
Sept. 1970
Southwest Colorado
Loss: $13,200,000
May 1969
South Platte River Basin
Loss: $21,500,000
June 1965
Arkansas River Basin
Loss: $205,480,000
June 1965
South Platte River
at Denver
Loss: $2,200,000,000
Source: National Center for
Atmospheric Research,
Boulder, Colorado |
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