Jamiesfeast – The heavy rainfall caused mudslides, wreaking havoc on homes and properties as rocks and boulders caused extensive damage.
As soon as the situation sinks in, your first instinct is to reach out to your insurance provider. However, just when you thought things couldn’t get worse, you are hit with another wave of unfortunate news.
According to Janet Ruiz, an expert from the Insurance Information Institute, standard homeowners insurance does not provide coverage for flooding.
In states like Florida, where flooding is a significant concern, it is essential to have a separate flood insurance policy to cover this type of damage. On the other hand, Californians are more focused on protecting their homes from earthquakes and fires.
According to Ruiz, when water rises from the ground, it is classified as flooding. Typically, this type of flooding involves a mixture of water, mud, and debris flowing through your house.
According to the most recent data from FEMA, a mere 1.52% of properties in the state are protected by FEMA flood insurance policies, which amounts to approximately 191,000 properties.
In the entire Los Angeles County, which holds the distinction of being the most populous county in the country with a staggering 10 million residents, there are merely 14,580 insurance policies.
According to Omar Ochoa, an attorney and expert in storm insurance, the coverage limits for homes are up to $250,000 and for businesses, it’s $500,000. While these amounts may not fully cover all damages in a disaster zone, they do provide some available coverage for policyholders.
If you have comprehensive coverage, your auto insurance policy may cover vehicles that have been damaged by mud and water.
If your home is damaged and you lack flood insurance, FEMA might provide assistance if your area is declared a federal disaster zone.
According to Ruiz, it is advisable to capture photographs of any damages you may have. These pictures can be submitted for insurance claims in case you have flood insurance. Alternatively, if the situation escalates to a federal disaster, you can present them to FEMA.
When signing up for flood insurance, it is important to note that there is a mandatory 30-day waiting period before the coverage goes into effect.