Hurricane Season Is Over, So You’re Safe, Right?
Hurricane season might be over but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. With the onset of winter, homeowners in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic regions still need to be wary.
Snow storms moving up the coast, or so called Noreasters have been famous over the years for their record amounts of snow accumulation and blizzard like conditions. Although not as severe as it would be with a hurricane, there are at times tropical force winds accompanying these storms. With these high winds comes the possibility of storm surge and the subsequent consequence, coastal flooding.
It is very important to make sure you have proper flood coverage. Recent government studies have estimated that as many as one third of all Americans still mistakenly believe that flooding is covered under their normal homeowner’s policy.
Normally property insurers don’t cover flooding in there regular plans, especially in high risk areas. As most of the country found out after Hurricane Katrina, insurance companies have a narrow view on what constitutes wind damage, which they do cover and flood damage, which they don’t.
Residents living in qualifying communities can purchase flood coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program which was instituted by Congress in 1968 and is run by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
