When it comes to your homeowners policy, you should always make sure you know the details of what is covered in the event of a flood. Most insurance providers have separate policies for “rising water”. Read more about what the difference in flood insurance and homeowners insurance really is to a insurance company.

Flood Insurance

Damage to your home caused by a flood will only be covered by a flood insurance policy. The term “flood” is defined as “the rising and overflowing of a body of water onto normally dry land.” There are many examples of this including: an overflowing river that washes into your home; heavy rain that isn’t absorbed by the soil fast enough causing it to seep into your basement; a mud slide caused by heavy rain or a flash flood that flows into your home. A standard flood insurance policy is written by the National Flood Insurance Program and provides coverage up to the policy limit for damage caused by a flood. Purchasing flood insurance is an excellent choice if you live in a flood plain, which can be determined by contacting your county planning office.

Homeowners Insurance

This type of policy provides coverage for many types of home water damage, excluding flood damage. Unlike flood insurance, which covers damage caused by water that’s already on the ground; homeowners insurance covers damage that’s caused by water before it comes in contact with the ground. Examples of this include: a leaky roof, burst water pipes and damage caused by a hailstorm (i.e. the hailstorm smashes a window allowing hail and rain to enter your home). Although a homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover flood damage, this policy does cover losses from theft, fire or explosion resulting from water damage.

It’s important to talk to your insurance company and decide which insurance coverage you need to protect your home. As always, if you have any type of flood damage or water damage, don’t hesitate to call DRIRITE first. We’ll help you file your claim properly.

Call us today at (813) 283-2202