When a storm begins to develop and appears to be heading in our direction, a few things happen:
- We get many phone calls from clients checking on their insurance limits and deductibles.
- Deeley Insurance social media pages post emergency preparation information.
- Businesses review their disaster management plan.
- Everyone goes to Walmart – for toilet paper, bread and milk.
In our coastal region, we see flooding on a fairly regular basis. Homes in our communities are built to strict building codes and with luck, we will survive any disaster with minimal damages. But some storms are stronger than others. For more powerful, potentially damaging storms, homeowners may want to take additional steps in securing properties. Some options:
- Sand bags
- Sump pumps in crawl spaces
- Plastic sheathing to cover door thresholds
- Covering windows
A study by the National Institute of Building Sciences found that every $1 of mitigation saves $6 during a disaster.
The Federal Emergency Management Association spends $.05 of every dollar brought in by the National Flood Insurance Program on flood mitigation assistance for communities and states to reduce long term risk of flood damage.
For policy holders in the National Flood Insurance Program, the money you spend preparing your home for flooding may be reimbursed. The policy will pay up to $1,000 for reasonable expenses to protect from flooding when a flood is imminent. They will also pay $1,000 of reasonable expenses to move contents to a secure location to protect from flood or imminent danger of flood.
When you’re preparing for a storm, save your receipts and take lots of pictures, in case there are funds available to help offset your responsible preparation expenses.
Stay Safe. Be Prepared.
