What To Do If You're A Flood Victim
BOSTON (CBS) - Several homes and businesses were damaged by severe flooding that ravaged the North Shore after heavy rain on Tuesday morning.
As a result, hundreds of people will be looking to know if their insurance covers the damage.
Read: MEMA Info on Flooding
Here are some tips from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency:
HOME & BUSINESS DAMAGE
- Don't make permanent repairs before contacting an insurance adjuster
- Take action to prevent further damage
- Take pictures/video of the damage, both to the house and its contents for insurance claims
- Keep record of receipts
- File a claim with your insurance company. FEMA administers the National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP) through the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA). The NFIP makes flood insurance available in communities that adopt and enforce ordinances to reduce flood damage
CAR DAMAGE
- Need to have comprehensive coverage
- May have to pay a deductible to cover damage
WBZ-TV's Jim Smith reports
PURCHASING FLOOD INSURANCE
Purchasing flood insurance after the current floods would not help you, as there is a 30-day waiting period for a flood insurance policy to go into effect.
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 said 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 by flood insurance.
You can find an agent to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program's website.
