Hurricane season on the Atlantic coast started June 1. The last two hurricane seasons have not been kind to the tri-state area. Many residents along the coasts of Long Island, Brooklyn and New Jersey are still working to recover from the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy. The damage caused to so many homes is a national disaster.
While we cannot undo the past, we can certainly learn from it. We now know the steps we need to take to protect our homes and families from future storms. It is important to trim or remove trees that are old and diseased to prevent them from falling on houses and cars. Gutters and window wells should be kept clean of debris. Plans should be made to survive during the inevitable power outages that will occur if another storm hits this year.
One of the most important steps homeowners need to take is to purchase flood insurance if they are living in a flood zone. If you have a mortgage, the bank will require this coverage. If your mortgage is paid off (lucky you!!!), please do not let your policy lapse. Your homeowners insurance will not cover losses incurred by flooding due to a major storm such as a hurricane.
A standard flood policy covers the building, electric and plumbing systems, carpeting and major appliances such as stoves, refrigerators and water heaters. You will need to pay an additional premium to cover contents like clothing furniture and electronics. Flood insurance does not cover basements, swimming pools, plants and fences. So, if you even if you have a flood policy, it would be wise to move valuable items out of the basement or low lying rooms and up to higher ground. If you have a room that is half under street level, it may be considered a basement for purposes of this program.
A standard flood policy covers up to $250,000 in damages to your house and up to $100,000 in contents. It is administered by the federal government via the National flood Insurance Program. Their website has detailed information about this program: www.FloodSmart.gov. To purchase this coverage, give our agency a call.
There is a 30 day waiting period for coverage to begin, so act now if you need a flood policy. If you call when the storm is on the way, it will be too late to protect the home that you have worked so hard for,
Give us a call today and we can answer your questions and get you going on this very important coverage.
