Don’t Gamble with Flood Insurance

During times of heavy rain, it isn’t difficult for your home to get overtaken by ground water. It could be the rain that is blown under the basement door or perhaps there is a leak in the foundation that allows that costly water to sneak through.

It may seem like the storm is simply to blame.

But once water enters your home, the insurance question becomes much more complicated. Unless you have the proper coverage, you could be on the hook for the damages.

That’s because many insurance carriers consider damage that occurs during a storm to be “flood damage” and will not cover the costs of clean-up and recover – unless you have flood insurance.

“If you have a crawl space or a basement, I recommend that everyone has flood insurance,” First In Restoration founder David King said. “Even if you are not in a flood zone. Even if your dwelling isn’t close to a river or a creek, there’s a good chance the insurance carrier is going to try to deny your claim – even if it is valid.”

Most flood insurance is tailored to your potential water damage. So if you live in dry place where there’s no apparent threat for flooding, your premium will be lower than your friend who owns that condo at the beach.

It is estimated that 25 percent of flood insurance claims come from areas that aren’t designated high-risk flood areas. These zones may be susceptible to heavy rainfall or poor drainage. Just look at the damage incurred by Hurricane Harvey throughout Texas in 2017 or Hurricane Helene that reached up and ravaged North Carolina in 2024.

“That’s why I say it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to flood insurance,” King said. “A lot of people gamble to save a few bucks, only to find out it would have been worth it to avoid all the hassles and headaches.”

Check your homeowner’s policy. It will probably cover water damage from burst pipes, snapped water lines, an overflowing toilet or rain dripping through your room. But more than likely, if that water enters your home from the ground, it will not be covered.

Save yourself the aggravation and the expense. Check into the cost of a flood policy and save yourself the headaches.

Review your coverage before the next storm. And if water does get into your home or business, First In Restoration is available 24/7 to help with cleanup and restoration. Call 678-483-7284.