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flood insurance

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home insurance

There are a lot of ideas you can use to help make your home better, and it is so important to make sure you take the time to get this done properly. Try to think about what it takes to make the home better, and one of the key ways of being able to achieve this is to make sure you have insurance procedures in place. This is important for the future, and you need to look at what you can do to protect your home.

Try to make sure you focus on the best ways of being able to achieve this moving forward. There are a lot of things that play a part in this, and it is so important to make sure your home has some degree of protection. You need to think hard about what it takes to make your home better, and these are some of the essential reasons you need to have insurance.

Financial Protection

One of the major reasons why you need to make sure you have the right insurance for your home is because this is one of the best ways of being able to achieve financial protection. There are a lot of elements that you need to keep in mind here, and it is important to make sure you focus on getting this right. Try to make sure you do as much as you can to improve the process, and this is something you have got to make sure you keep in mind as much as you possibly can right now.

Different Types of Insurance Cover Different Things

Another thing you need to consider is the fact that there are a lot of different types of insurance cover that you will want to think about as a homeowner. Basic home insurance is important, but you’re also going to have to consider things like fire protection and flood insurance are also essential. Then you have policies that cover contents insurance, and some that will pretty much cover you for everything. So, you need to make sure you consider which types of insurance policies suit your needs as a homeowner.  

Always Be Prepared

You have to make sure you are always prepared and that you have planned and readied your home in the event of disaster. Just as things like basement waterproofing repair services are essential for any home, you also need to make sure you have the right insurance premiums in place right now. There are so many things that play a part in this and you need to make sure you are focused on improving the home and looking after it as much as possible.

There are a lot of things you need to think about when it comes to improving the home moving forward, and this is something that you are going to need to work on as much as possible. You have to do as much as you can to protect your home in an array of different ways, and this is something you should look to consider right now.

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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued the following safety tips on how to cope with a hurricane.

Before a Hurricane

To prepare for a hurricane, you should take the following measures:

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.

• Know your surroundings.

• Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted.

• Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.

• Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.

• Make plans to secure your property:

• Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.

• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.

• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.

• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.

• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.

• Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.

• Determine how and where to secure your boat.

• Install a generator for emergencies.

• If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on or below the 10th floor.

• Consider building a safe room.

Hurricanes cause heavy rains that can cause extensive flood damage in coastal and inland areas. Everyone is at risk and should consider flood insurance protection. Flood insurance is the only way to financially protect your property or business from flood damage. To learn more about your flooding risk and how to protect yourself and your business, visit the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (NFIP) Web site,www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419. For more detailed information on how you can protect your property, view NFIP’s printer-friendly handout Avoiding Hurricane Damage.

During a Hurricane

If a hurricane is likely in your area, you should:

• Listen to the radio or TV for information.

• Secure your home, close storm shutters and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.

• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.

• Turn off propane tanks

• Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.

• Moor your boat if time permits.

• Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purpose such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other larger containers with water.

• Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency.

You should evacuate under the following conditions:

If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.

• If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure – such shelter are particularly hazardous during hurricane no matter how well fastened to the ground.

• If you live in a high-rise building – hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.

• If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an island waterway.

Read more about evacuating yourself and your family. If you are unable to evacuate, go to your wind-safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines:

• Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.

• Close all interior doors – secure and brace external doors.

• Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm – winds will pick up again.

• Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level.

• Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.

• Avoid elevators.

After a Hurricane

• Continue listening to a NOAA Weather Radio or the local news for the latest updates.

• Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding even after the hurricane or tropical storm has ended.

• If you have become separated from your family, use your family communications plan or contact FEMA or the American Red Cross.

• FEMA has established the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System (NEFRLS), which has been developed to help reunite families who are separated during a disaster. The NEFRLS system will enable displaced individuals the ability to enter personal information into a website database so that they can be located by others during a disaster.

• The American Red Cross also maintains a database to help you find family. Contact the local American Red Cross chapter where you are staying for information. Do not contact the chapter in the disaster area.

• If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.

• If you cannot return home and have immediate housing needs. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).

• For those who have longer-term housing needs, FEMA offers several types of assistance, including services and grants to help people repair their homes and find replacement housing. Apply for assistance or search for information about housing rental resources

• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed¬ out bridges. Stay off the streets. If you must go out watch for fallen objects; downed electrical wires; and weakened walls, bridges, roads, and sidewalks.

• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.

• Walk carefully around the outside your home and check for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage before entering.

• Stay out of any building if you smell gas, floodwaters remain around the building or your home was damaged by fire and the authorities have not declared it safe.

• Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes. If you have any doubts about safety, have your residence inspected by a qualified building inspector or structural engineer before entering.

• Use battery-powered flashlights in the dark. Do NOT use candles. Note: The flashlight should be turned on outside before entering – the battery may produce a spark that could ignite leaking gas, if present.

• Watch your pets closely and keep them under your direct control. Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes. Use a stick to poke through debris.

• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it’s not contaminated.

• Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.

• Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.

• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

• NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.

 

 

Insurance policies covering flood damages become essential as flood warnings have been issued across the U.K.

 

The British insurance companies caution homeowners that separate flood insurances are required in order to protect their houses against rising waters from the rains that have been lashing parts of the United Kingdom. The residents must revise their policies and make sure that there won’t be any unwanted surprises.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) recommends that documents, flood insurance, home insurance, motor insurance, the emergency contact information for local authorities and utility companies and other documents to be kept in a safe, easy to find, dry place.

Anyone whose property is damaged should contact their insurer’s 24-hour emergency number as soon as possible, before throwing out any damaged belongings.

Insurers expect bad weather to strike any time and have arrangements in place to minimise distress and inconvenience and help customers recover as quickly as possible. Anyone who has suffered damage should contact their insurer straight away to get their claim moving,” said Nick Starling, the ABI’s director of general insurance.

Lots of regions suffered from flooding in the early summer, leading to significant payouts by insurers.

A rainfall dumped down a month’s worth of precipitation within periods of only twenty four hours, the south of Scotland and the north of England have been pummeled with winds reaching 60 miles per hour, and some regions have recently received rainfall of up to 80 mm within a single day’s time.

Homeowners insurance does not cover flood damages.

Homeowners insurance does not cover flood damages, flood insurance policy is needed.

There are some differences between home insurance and flood insurance, and this is the reason why coverage for flooding is needed beside homeowners insurance.

Only flood insurance covers for flood damages, and because it has a 30-day waiting period, the flood insurance policy must be obtained long time before an imminent flooding.

Flood damage is the damage caused by water that has been on the ground at some point before damaging a house, for example, surface water caused by a heavy rain seeps into basement because the soil can’t absorb the water quickly enough, or a nearby river overflows its banks and washes into home. You can contact your county planning office to determine if your home is located in a flood plain.

A homeowners insurance policy does not provide coverage for flood damage, but it provides coverage for a lot of types of water damage to your home. Water damage is considered to occur when water damages your home before the water comes in contact with the ground, for example, a broken water pipe spews water in your home.

Homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover the flood damage, but losses from theft, fire or explosion resulting from that damage are covered. Flood insurance and homeowners insurance do not duplicate coverage for water damage, they complement each other.

To make a decision regarding which type of insurance you should buy, talk to an insurance professional about flood insurance policy and homeowners insurance policy.