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The snow is melting, and with spring a little less than a month off, were all looking forward to warmer weather. But rising temperatures may bring a new challenge. We could be in for floods.
According to Jessica Aquino of Greenwich Independent Insurance, Many think that if their house is far from Long Island Sound that flood insurance isnt necessary, but the majority of flooding comes not just from rain, but from snow melting right on their front lawn.
Gov. Dan Malloy is urging homeowners to plan ahead to protect and insure their property from potentially damaging floods once the record snowpack begins to melt. Homeowners, renters and businesses that are considering taking out federal flood insurance must realize that there is a 30-day waiting period from time of purchase before the policy goes into effect.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), flood insurance covers direct physical loss caused by flood. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) defines a flood as A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is your property). This could be caused by an overflow of inland or tidal waters. Or from an unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source. So watch out for overflowing rivers and ponds, and for floods caused by melting snow.
Here are some quick facts about flood insurance:
? You dont need to live near water to be flooded.
? Homes can be insured for up to $250,000 for the building, $100,000 for the contents.
? Renters can buy flood insurance for the contents of their home or apartment.
? There are coverage limitations for basements and crawl spaces.
? Flood insurance pays for covered flood losses even if a federal disaster is not declared.
We cant stress the importance of it enough, said Aquino. When spring arrives and it starts raining we usually get an influx of people signing up for flood insurance, but it can happen earlier. With the warmer weather weve been having, that snow is going to melt, and it could easily seep right into your house.
Greenwich Independent Insurance offers a free flood insurance quote online. If you want to talk to Jessica, give her a call at (203) 869-0302.
Do you have flood insurance on your home?
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