Not In A Flood Zone? You May Still Want Flood Insurance!

Did you know...

Here in the Vancouver Washington and Pacific Northwest area we have many Rivers, Streams and Lakes, with the documented Flood Zones requiring property owners within those zones to have Flood Insurance Coverage. 

Not too well known however, is that it is very possible to not be within a Flood Zone, and have Flooding Damage to your home. In fact like the graphic above shows nationwide more than 20% of the flood claims come from properties that are not in a designated flood zone.

Water can come into the living area of a home from many sources, and a small amount can cause significant, expensive-to-repair damage. However, a standard homeowners insurance policy will only cover certain events such as a burst plumbing pipe or fixture within the home;  while a backed-up storm drain that floods your home will not be covered.

Can you think of the times when a strong thunderstorm rolls through our area and dumps an inch or two of rain rather quickly?  When our rainwater management systems are designed for precipitation quantities of about one-inch or less per day, the extra and rapid dumping of rain from a thunderstorm can quickly flood yards, streets, and can come quickly down hillsides and possibly end up in your home! This would be considered flood water, and any damage it causes to your property would only be covered with flood insurance.

In addition to considering flood insurance, it is also to keep an eye out for physical preventative measures you may be able to take to make it harder for flood water to enter your home. Two common places to check and perhaps remedy are: 1) Crawlspace vents that are at, or below grade; and 2) Downspouts and where their out-flow goes.

Crawlspace vents that are at or below grade are a somewhat common finding we see during a Home Inspection. These are necessary vents for a healthy home but, we must make certain it is very difficult for rain and groundwater to enter those vents.

The Gutter + Downspout system that is working correctly is also on the front-line of defense. Keeping the gutters clean, downspouts working, with the final delivery of the rainwater away from the home, in a manner the water will stay away from the home - is essential.

In sum, this article is not meant to be definitive or contain enough information to help you determine if you should buy flood insurance but rather, raise awareness enough that you'll check with your local insurance agent, and perhaps other resources available on the Web.

Additional Resources that may help you to learn more about this topic:

From FEMA: Your Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover Flooding  and
                       Facts and Myths about Flood Insurance

Dave Ramsey: Do I Need Flood Insurance?

Bankrate: All Wet! 6 Flood Insurance Myths Debunked

PS - If you are looking to Sell or Buy a Home in Vancouver Washington please check us out at: www.ClarkCountyExpert.com.