With the heavy rains that have
resulted from “Super Storm Sandy”, there has been a good deal of flooding across
the east coast of the United
States. Because of this recent occurrence,
we wanted to remind you of some important facts about flood insurance.
Flood
insurance is very important, especially since it only takes a few inches of
water to cause severe problems. According to FloodSmart.gov, the average flood
claim has been around $48,000 for personal and $85,000 for commercial
buildings. Homeowners, renters, condo owners/renters, and commercial
owners/renters can all purchase a flood insurance policy to protect the
building and its contents (as long as two or more lots are flooded).
Flood
insurance only covers damage made when water rises up into a building and
damages the building and its contents, not if water enters the home by any
other means then the ground. It must be purchased separate from your Florida homeowner’s
insurance policy. To see whether or not it would benefit you to purchase this
type of policy, find out your flood zone by having a local surveyor complete an
elevation certificate, which can cost anywhere from $150-$300 depending on
where you live. If you live in a high-risk area, you should definitely purchase
a flood insurance policy, though it isn’t mandatory.
Though we cannot
control natural disasters, we at Westgate-Jones want to make sure you are well
protected through great Florida
insurance policies. If you have any questions regarding flood insurance,
contact us at 352-787-7548.
Westgate-Jones Insurance
Agency
352-787-7548