Damage Restoration

Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Over the past 10 years, the average flood claim has amounted to over $33,000. Flood insurance is the best way to protect yourself from devastating financial loss.

Flood insurance is available to homeowners, renters, condo owners/renters, and commercial owners/renters. Costs vary depending on how much insurance is purchased, what it covers, and the property’s flood risk.

Residential Flood Insurance – What’s Covered and What’s Not

Flood insurance policies cover physical damage to your property and possessions. Basic flood insurance policies cover structures only. If you want to insure your personal belongings against flood damage, you must buy separate coverage.

Test Your Water IQ

Building Property

• The insured building and its foundation
• Electrical and plumbing systems
• Central air conditioning equipment, furnaces, and water heaters
• Refrigerators, cooking stoves, and built-in appliances such as dishwashers
• Permanently installed carpeting over unfinished flooring
• Permanently installed paneling, wallboard, bookcases, and cabinets
• Window blinds
• Detached garages (up to 10 percent of Building Property coverage) Detached buildings (other than garages) require a separate Building Property policy
• Debris removal

Personal Contents Property

• Personal belongings, such as clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment
• Curtains
• Portable and window air conditioners
• Portable microwave ovens and portable dishwashers
• Carpets that are not included in building coverage
• Clothing washers and dryers
• Food freezers and the food in them
• Certain valuable items such as original artwork and furs (up to $2,500)

What’s Not Covered:

• Damage caused by moisture, mildew, or mold that could have been avoided by the property owner
• Currency, precious metals, and valuable papers such as stock certificates
• Property and belongings outside of an insured building such as trees, plants, wells, septic systems, walks, decks, patios, fences, seawalls, hot tubs, and swimming pools
• Living expenses such as temporary housing
• Financial losses caused by business interruption or loss of use of insured property
• Most self-propelled vehicles such as cars, including their parts (see Section IV.5 in your policy)

Flood Insurance for Basements and Areas Below the Lowest Elevated Floor

Coverage is limited in basements regardless of zone or date of construction. It’s also limited in areas below the lowest elevated floor, depending on the flood zone and date of construction. These areas include:

• Basements
• Crawlspaces under an elevated building
• Enclosed areas beneath buildings elevated on full-story foundation walls that are sometimes referred to as “walkout basements”
• Enclosed areas under other types of elevated buildings

Make sure to ask your agent for additional details on your basement coverage.

You can use the following list as a general guide to what is and isn’t covered or simply refer to the Summary of Coverage (PDF 108K) to help you better understand your policy and coverage.

The Cost of Flooding

Find out what a few inches of flood water can cost in damage.

To be covered, the flood must also

• be a temporary condition, and
• cover two or more acres or two or more properties

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers coverage in approximately 20,000 communities in the U.S.

You can determine if your property is eligible for flood insurance by checking the NFIP Community Status Book. For Minnesota PDF 49KB

Flood and Sewage Damage
Flood damage is hazardous to your health and the integrity of your home or business. Treated quickly, you can minimize damage, reduce restoration costs and prevent mold or other contaminants. Time is of the essence when water and sewage damage occurs. In the unfortunate event of damage to your home, Minnesota  Damage Restoration Experts are qualified with the proper knowledge and equipment to assess the damage and attend to all of your home’s needs.