Tips To Protect Your Home In Case Of Flooding
BOSTON (CBS) - From roof tops to basements, homeowners are already worried for the next threat from all our snow: flooding.
Last March, many neighborhoods were under water due to heavy rains and melting snow. Many residents are taking action now to protect their homes. What should you know?
WBZ's Jim Smith reports.
There is a 30-day waiting period for a flood insurance policy to go into effect, so anyone who is worried about possible spring floods should act now. Remember: last year's floods hit in mid-March.
See: FloodSmart.gov
There are also a few factors that will determine the price of your premium.
They include:
- The date of construction.
- Whether you are insuring a residential or commercial property.
- The amount of coverage you want. (There is a $250,000 limit on residential buildings and $100,000 limit on its contents. The limit for commercial properties is $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for the contents)
- Your flood risk zone.
A low-cost policy is available if you live outside a high-risk area.
It's also important to remember that not everything will be covered in your basement, even with insurance.
FEMA tells WBZ that things like oil tanks, furnaces, foundations, washer and dryers (if connected) and food freezers along with the food in them are covered.
But, contents like televisions and rugs, sofas and other personal items are not covered.
You can find an agent to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program's website.
