Rainy Season in Pennsylvania and How to Stay Safe

Flood Insurance, and Why You Need It

We have officially entered the tail-end of the rainy season, and the eastern seaboard is seeing a lot of rain, winds and flooding. In areas such as these, Flood Insurance is extremely necessary. Even residents of states that are not directly effected by Hurricane Season, still regularly acquire Flood Insurance.

Flooding is unpredictable and can happen to anyone–whether living near a lake, such as Lake Erie, or living in a valley, anyone can be effected by flooding. Due to the unpredictability of an event such as flooding, it can sometimes be difficult for homeowners to know if it is needed or not. As the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) points out, flooding is the number one natural disaster in the United States. FEMA.gov also points out that home owners that do not live in high-risk flooding areas file 20% of all National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims–these home owners will also receive approximately one-third of federal funds.

Since floods are so unpredictable, Flood Insurance is not something that is attached to your Home or Renter’s Insurance Policy, it has to be purchased from the Federal Government through your Insurance Agency (Lafaro Agency).

When protecting your home from flood damage through an insurance policy, it is important to know that there are two parts to a policy. A policy to protect the structure of your home is separate from a policy that will protect the contents of the home.

Due to the fact that Flood Insurance is not apart of a Home Insurance policy, on average, it is pretty inexpensive. A premium may be $470-$700 per year, which will get a home owner $200,000-$250,000 in structure coverage and approximately $80,000for your home’s contents.

• 90% of all natural disasters in the United States involve flooding or some type of flood damage
• When purchasing flood insurance, there is a 30-day waiting period, so be cautious of when you purchase to make sure you are protected at the height of rainy season, hurricane season, etc. 
• 20% of all flood claims are filed in low/moderate flood risk areas
• Floods include: inland flooding, flash floods and floods from seasonal storms
• The “rainy season” in the United States will usually run from July to November, with July usually being the wettest month in the state of PA
• Rainy season can be more dangerous in this part of the year due to strong winds, wet leaves on the ground, and very cold temperatures 
• Flood Insurance covers: 
  • A home and the foundation
  • A building and the foundation 
  • Electrical and plumbing systems
  • Air conditioning equipment, furnaces, and heaters
  • Appliances, such as washer & dryer, refrigerator, and stoves
  • Personal possessions such as clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment 

In the end, it is extremely less expensive to pay for Flood Insurance on a monthly basis, than it would be to repair your home from the damage of a possible flood.