Author: Dabney Weems
Whether you are a longtime homeowner or first-time buyer, purchasing insurance can be an intimidating task. The beginning of hurricane season is a great time to look at the types of insurance coverage you have and determine if it is adequate. Remember, new policies usually take 30 days to go into effect. So, plan now.
Flood Insurance
Did you know an inch of water can cause up to $25,000 in damage to your home or business? Most home, business and renters insurance policies do NOT cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a separate policy that will cover your home and belongings.
Flood insurance is a good purchase for protecting your home, your most valuable asset. For homeowners, flood insurance covers up to $250,000 for the structure and $100,000 for contents. Renters can cover contents up to $100,000. Business owners can insure their structure up to $500,000 and contents up to $500,000.
You can learn more about your property’s flooding risk and potential impacts from flooding (and sign up for flooding alerts) at fiman.nc.gov. For additional information on flood insurance or to find an agent, call 800-427-2419 or visit floodsmart.gov.
Earthquake Insurance
Not all states require earthquake insurance. However, North Carolina learned on Aug. 9, 2020, earthquakes can happen anywhere. It’s highly likely that your homeowners policy doesn’t include earthquake coverage. You can add it by buying an endorsement to your policy. An endorsement is a written change to the policy. The coverage you purchase can cover repairs needed as a result of an earthquake.
As we enter storm season, please take the time to review your insurance coverage. It’s important to protect your greatest financial investment.
Additional Resources:
- For more information on an individual property’s flood risk, visit http://fris.nc.gov/fris/.
- Making a Financial First Aid Kit
- Now is the Time to Prepare for Hurricane Season