Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Unusual sports bar to be sold at auction
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
Family found dead in Ohio home
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Circle K on Brown Street robbed
Man gets 3 years in prison for having sex with horse
Bank helps more save their homes
Woman says clinic refused to help her get pregnant because she's not married
Blogs:
Pets:
Officials: NYer Had 20 Dead Dogs Buried in Yard
The Heldenfiles:
Monday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Time for Kokinis, Browns to agree and part ways
Akron Zips:
Zips tip off tomorrow
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – November 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Weekly ‘B’ Deck Report – New Mexico St.
Varsity Letters:
Louisville’s Bobby Swigert headed to Boston College
All Da King's Men:
If It Looks Like Islamic Terrorism…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dems Message To Women: Don't Enjoy The Sex
Akron Law Café:
Abortion Analogies
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
New 'Call of Duty' could set entertainment record
Published on Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007
The way water enters your home makes it easy to know whether your losses are covered by homeowner's insurance, or whether it's covered only if you have separate flood insurance or additional coverage on your policy.
Here are the possibilities:
If water swells in the street or yard and enters your home through a door or windows, that is covered only if you have separate flood insurance.
If water swells from your sump pump or drain into your basement, it's covered only if you have additional coverage on your homeowner's policy, usually called an endorsement for backup sewer and drain coverage. Higher-end policies might include this, but it's not the norm, so you'll have to check with your agent first.
If heavy rains and wind cause water (not floodwaters) to enter your house through windows or cause leaks in your roof, that is covered under your traditional homeowner's policy.
The biggest misconception is that water damage of any type because of a flood or heavy rain is covered.
That's wrong and it's not the best time to find that out when you're knee-deep in water.
''People think everything is covered,'' said Mitch Wilson, a spokesman for the Ohio Insurance Institute, a trade organization representing the property and casualty insurance industry. ''Damage caused by flood is always excluded from a homeowner's policy.''
Flood insurance is a separate policy that homeowners may purchase. You can get it through many private insurance agents, but it's administered through a federal government program. And you don't have to live in a flood plain to get flood insurance. As long as you live in a community that participates in the program, you can purchase a flood policy. Currently, 732 communities in the state participate and 68 don't. (To find out whether your community participates, go to http://www.fema.gov/cis/OH.pdf)
There's also a lot of information at the National Flood Insurance Program's site, http://www.floodsmart.gov, including a spot where you can put in your address to see your flood risk.
The average annual premium for Ohio flood insurance in 2006 was $605. The average cost to include a backup sewer and drain endorsement to a homeowner's policy is about $50 a year. Coverage varies among companies, so it's important to know what your company does and doesn't cover.
Flood-damaged cars are covered (after your deductible) under the ''other-than-collision'' portion of auto insurance, which also is called ''comprehensive.''
There's no difference between coverage if your car is in a parked spot that gets flooded, or if the car is damaged when you drive through high water (which isn't advisable anyway, for safety reasons), Wilson said.
Whenever there is a natural disaster, there will be some fly-by-night contractors who will try to benefit from your problems. Check a service company's record with consumer agencies, such as the local Better Business Bureau or the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
If damages are close to your deductible, consider paying those costs yourself instead of filing a claim. Insurance companies do keep track of claims and that can count against you in the future.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@ thebeaconjournal.com.
The way water enters your home makes it easy to know whether your losses are covered by homeowner's insurance, or whether it's covered only if you have separate flood insurance or additional coverage on your policy.
Get the full article here.
