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We’ve all been watching the devastation in North Carolina from all the inland flooding. We’ve also recently seen earthquakes for our friends in California. And while we don’t often experience these things on a large scale in the Midwest, it does still happen here and your standard homeowners or renters policy will NOT cover these events!
Flood
Generally speaking, if it’s a moving body of water that comes into your house from the outside, it’s a flood. If you live in a flood zone, your mortgage company will require you to carry flood insurance, but according to the National Flood Insurance Program, more than 20 percent of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk flood zones.
Water damage that starts inside your home, like a burst pipe, doesn’t require flood insurance and is covered under you standard homeowner policy. Additionally, if your home has a basement, we will include water backup coverage and increase the limit depending on the finish of your basement.
Earthquake
Earthquake coverage can be added as an endorsement on your homeowners or renters policy. It will have a 10 percent deductible (i.e. if your house is worth $300k, the deductible would be $30k), but it’s fairly affordable since earthquakes are uncommon around here.
However, according to the United States Geological Survey’s latest report, nearly half of all Americans are now at risk for damage from an earthquake. Most people think of large magnitude earthquakes when contemplating their risk and carrying earthquake insurance, even though earthquakes of smaller magnitude can still cause significant damage.
I am always more than happy to sit down with you to review the need for flood or earthquake coverage, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like more information.
Did you know that it costs more to buy a new car today in the United States than it cost Christopher Columbus to equip and undertake three voyages to and from the New World?