Flood Insurance

When Should You Get Flood Insurance? Is it Required?

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If you’ve been considering adding flood insurance to your home or commercial property, it’s important to understand what it is and what it covers. There could be cases where it’s required, and you need to add it to your policy.

What is Flood Insurance?

This policy is a supplemental insurance option that can be added to your home or commercial insurance policy. It covers damages to the area done by water and other natural disasters that aren’t usually covered under your standard policy. It’s ideal to give you that full coverage protection.

When Should You Get Flood Insurance?

If you aren’t sure about getting flood insurance, there are a few things to keep in mind to help you make that decision.

1. You Live Near Water

Whether it’s the ocean, rivers, or major lakes, getting flood insurance on your property is a good practice. Even if your area isn’t labeled as a flood zone, you’ll want to make sure to have this coverage in the event of a tragedy.

2. Loss of Natural Trees and Wooded Area

If you live in an area that is built up with a lot of homes and a lot fewer trees, then you might want to get flood insurance. Naturally, certain trees and wooded areas can handle excess rain, but areas that do not have that natural buffer are more likely to experience flooding.

3. It’s a Requirement

If you’re looking to purchase a home in a flood zone, you will need to have this insurance before you can secure your mortgage. A flood zone could be an area that has already experienced flooding or has the potential to experience it based on its location in local water.

If you’re considering adding flood insurance to your policy, feel free to contact Outdoor Insurance Services. We proudly serve the Houston, TX area and surrounding communities.

Do You Need Flood Insurance for Your Texas Home?

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Nothing is worse than seeing everything you’ve worked for floating and floodwater in your home or basement. Many people mistakenly think that flood insurance is automatically included with their homeowner’s insurance policy, but that is not the case. Our agents at Outdoor Insurance Services, serving the Houston, TX area, want you to know that most home insurance policies do not include flood or earthquake insurance, so you have to get an amendment added to your main policy to have these types of coverage.

Do You Need Flood Insurance for Your Texas Home?

Flood insurance is a critical consideration for homeowners in Texas due to the state’s vulnerability to heavy rainfall, hurricanes, and even flash flooding. Texas is known for its unpredictable weather, and severe storms can lead to devastating floods that can cause extensive damage to your home and property. While flood insurance is not required for all homeowners in Texas, it is still a great investment to provide you with the financial protection you deserve.

While the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which offers flood insurance policies to homeowners, renters, and business owners, you can have your insurance agent create a policy that works for you and your situation.

Flood insurance will not only cover the structure of your home or building, but it will also help you replace any items that are lost in a flood, such as clothing, furniture, and appliances.

Get Your Flood Insurance Policy Today

You never know when bad weather will be upon you, bringing floodwaters that can invade your home and property. Get ahead of the next storm by securing a flood insurance policy by calling our agents at Outdoor Insurance Services serving the Houston, TX area today!

Do You Need Flood Insurance?

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No matter where you live, having flood insurance is a good idea. Many areas flood regularly, and many more areas flood infrequently. But, once is enough for an enormous amount of damage to a home. It would help if you had flood insurance when you want to protect your home against all its risks. When you need flood insurance protection, call us at Outdoor Insurance Services in Houston, TX to find out more. 

Home Insurance and Flooding

Flooding can happen for several reasons, many of which are not covered by home insurance. Many assume their home insurance policy will pay for any damages after a flood, but this isn’t the case. To protect your home against floods, you must have a flood policy. Floods can cause enormous damage to a home, so it’s never a good idea to be unprotected in case one should happen. 

Backing for Flood Insurance

When looking for flood insurance, there is just one sponsor and backer of this coverage. The government backs it through the National Flood Insurance Program. This also means that the price of this insurance is always the same from any insurance agency you buy it through. The NFIP has recommended that all homeowners have this insurance to protect their homes against floods, not just if they live in a flood zone. About one in five flood claims that are reported come from areas that are not in designated flood areas. 

Get Your Flood Policy

When you want the best protection, you can get for your home, that includes getting flood insurance. Call us at Outdoor Insurance Services in Houston, TX to get started.

     

How Can I Benefit From Flood Insurance?

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Floods cause vast amounts of damage in the United States, and Houston, TX is one of those areas that gets hit by major flooding affecting the people staying there. Most people assume that home insurance covers floods, but once they learn that is not the case, they become devastated. To avoid these disappointments, you should consider getting flood insurance. There are many ways it will benefit you and your home, and as Outdoor Insurance Services explains, some of those benefits are as follows.

Protect Your Property

Picture how much your home costs. A home is one of the most expensive assets that anyone has, with a value of thousands of dollars. Even a little bit of water getting inside can cause unimaginable damage, setting you back financially. However, this is something you will not have to worry about if you have flood insurance as damages are covered.

Gives You Peace of Mind

People living in flood-prone areas are always worried about the loss they will suffer if there is flooding. Even the slightest hint from the weatherman that a storm is approaching might give you sleepless nights. However, instead of the constant worry, you can purchase flood insurance and rest easy knowing that even if your home floods, you will be compensated for the loss you go through.

Protect Your Loved Ones

Your home is a safe place for your family members. Imagine if your home was affected by floods today. Do you have a backup plan for where you and your loved one will go? There is also the process of rebuilding that might take time, especially if you lack the finances. Flood insurance should be your backup plan, where you will be able to recover fast and keep your loved ones safe.

Residents of  Houston, TX, who want to enjoy these benefits and many others can contact Outdoor Insurance Services for assistance. Our agents will help ensure you can minimize the effects of floods in your home.

How Are Flood Zones Determined?

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In short, a flood zone classifies how likely the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) believes that an area will flood. Generally speaking, if you are purchasing a home in a flood zone your mortgage lender is likely to require you to purchase additional flood insurance beyond what, if any, coverage your homeowner’s insurance offers with our team. 

FEMA uses 15 categories to determine whether or not a property is in a flood zone. Any property in an A or V Zone is considered to be in a Special Flood Hazard Area which means that it is at the greatest risk of flooding. Generally, these are beachfront properties or those where floods have caused significant damage in the past. Any property within the V Zone is required to have flood insurance. Properties within Zones C to X represent those with minimal risk or flooding and it is dependent on the lender whether or not flood insurance is required. Areas that have not been evaluated by FEMA but where flooding is deemed possible fall within Zone D. 

Damage caused by flooding is generally not covered by insurance because it is considered to be a gradual incident and not one that is sudden or accidental. If water has hit the ground first before entering your home then it will likely be considered flood damage and not covered by insurance. Purchasing flood insurance, even if not required by the lender, offers substantial peace of mind and financial security from damage caused by water and waves.

At Outdoor Insurance Services in The Woodlands, TX, our friendly and competent team can help assist if your home is in a flood zone or if you want information on the benefits of flood insurance. Give us a call today for a no-obligation consultation. 

Assessing Your Need for Flood Insurance

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You’ve probably watched on the news how many people lost their homes due to torrential downpours. Although the extent of the damage varies greatly from house to house, it often exceeds the funds a family has to repair or replace. Flood insurance protects individuals, but it’s not necessary for all homeowners. At Outdoor Insurance Services, serving The Woodlands, TX and the nearby region, we can help you determine if flood insurance is necessary for you. 

Assess Your Risk

Keep in mind, even if you’re at a higher elevation, floods can damage the bottom structure of your home and cause it to collapse. You also want to take into consideration that water can seep into your home and cause damage to your basement.

You want to take into consideration the average rainfall in your area as well as how often storms occur. You want to take into consideration the type of storms that affect your area. It’s also important to think about the worst-case scenario. If your standard policy doesn’t cover the damage, you’ll need to pay out of pocket. If you can’t afford it, you could find yourself struggling to figure out how to repair the damage.

Consider What the Policy Offers

Policies vary regarding what they cover and how much of it they cover. It’s important to consider what the policy covers and if it’s enough. If you’re worried about a specific area of your home getting damaged by flooding, you want to make sure the policy covers it. Sometimes, flood policies are limited. You also want to consider that even if you’re not in a high-risk area, you could experience flood damage.

Contact Outdoor Insurance Services, serving The Woodlands, TX and nearby area, for a quote for flood insurance by calling us at 832-497-5312.