Flood insurance

With El Nino rains right around the corner, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging Californians to buy flood insurance even if they are in areas of low to moderate risk. If you are considering the purchase of flood insurance, it's important to know that it is not something that can be purchased at the last minute. Since flood insurance policies have a 30 day waiting period for the policy to go into effect, now is the time to make that decision.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering the purchase of flood insurance:

Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. From 2010 to 2014 the average flood claim amounted to more than $39,000. In 2014, the average flood insurance policy premium was $700.

Flood insurance is available to homeowners, renters, condo owners/renters, and commercial owners/renters. Costs vary depending on how much insurance is purchased, what it covers, and the property's flood risk.

Since standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding, it's important to have protections from floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains, and other conditions that impact the U.S.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a government subsidized plan. FEMA established the rate structure and regulations and wrote the manual for the program. Under normal circumstances, flood zones are either rated preferred or high risk. A great majority of Tehachapi falls within a preferred zone. If a home or business falls in a high risk zone, additional documentation such as an elevation certificate may be required for coverage. In most cases, flood coverage will be provided if more than one property is affected by water damage. Also, an exception to the 30 day waiting period is when coverage is required for the close of an escrow, in which case proof of coverage can be provided.

Tehachapi recently got a taste of the disaster that can come from El Nino rains. With the Highway 58 mudslide and flooding, it's clear that these storms can wreak havoc. At Ball Insurance Services, we can ensure that your home or business is protected for both the structure and the inside contents with your flood insurance product. For a free quote, give one of our expert agents a call at 1-800-444-7014.