Floods And Other Disasters
Two Events That Are Most Probably Not Covered In Your Basic
Policy Are: Flooding And Earthquakes. Through the U.S. Federal Emergency
Management Administration, Flood insurance is provided within the National
Flood Insurance Program. These events, like hail, freezing, or lightening
are natural disasters, but are kept apart from the basic policy by insurers.
Earthquake insurance is not a straightforward process, there are many
external factors that will come to bear on you ability to acquire, and
the price you will pay, for your policy. You will need an endorsement to
your existing policy or a separate policy depending on your personal situation.
Flood Insurance. In 1968, in order to find cheaper
alternatives to escalating disaster-relief payments associated with flooding,
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established.
People in communities, in order to obtain flood insurance, must work
together building necessary drainage, levies and other infrastructures
that will stave off flooding before qualifying for participation in a
FEMA approved community flood plain program.
The NFIP Web site and your lender or insurer can calculate if your home
needs flood insurance coverage before you get too far along with that
process. Needless to say if you live on high ground and
not near a river or water basin this may not be an expense that is warranted.
BUT, check it out fully first before abandoning the concept.
Earthquake Insurance falls within these same parameters.
Most earthquakes in America occur on the west coast in the State of California.
The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) issues mandatory policies for
California residents. The residents of California, in 1994, experienced
loss of life and damages to such a degree that they were encouraged to
form the CEA.
Similar to flood insurance, earthquake coverage is not needed by everyone
everywhere, so do your research, ask more questions and proceed accordingly.
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