Insurance commissioner offers tips
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine had the following tips for homeowners suffering from flood damage:
For those without insurance (Oxendine estimates that’s 80 percent of those affected):
– Start dealing with the damage, either personally or by contacting a professional. Get the wet carpet out of the house. Do not save the padding. Throw it out.
– Get air flowing in the house, but do not use the air-conditioner. Open the windows. Use large fans and dehumidifiers.
– Hope the federal government approves FEMA money to assist Georgians financially.
For those with flood insurance:
– Document the damage for your insurance company. Make sure to take photos.
– Coordinate with your insurance agent to get a restoration company to dry, clean and decontaminate everything affected.
What if a sewer or septic tank backed up?
Oxendine says bare-bones policies do not cover that, but premium policies generally do. So make sure to check on that.
In the future, is flood insurance worth it?
Oxendine says about 9 percent of Georgians in single-family homes carry flood insurance. He thinks it’s worth considering in the future. In low-risk areas, he says some of the premiums run about $120 to $150. But, he added, it can be more expensive in higher risk areas.
This question was added later after many blog comments: Can any homeowner in Georgia buy flood insurance?
Most can. Homeowners in all but 16 communities in Georgia can purchase flood insurance if their home is not located in a flood plain. The excluded 16 communities did not chose to participate in the federal flood program. A list of communities that do participate can be found at www.fema.gov/cis/ga.pdf
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68 comments Add your comment
Pat
September 23rd, 2009
9:56 pm
Don’t be so cavalier Dick. As I’m sure you have everything going for you, not all do. To continue this is pointless with you so I’m ending it. We’d need another post and this isn’t the forum for it. I really feel sorry for people like you and hope you find your light someday.
Tom B.
September 24th, 2009
8:18 am
No one is talking about the lack of responsibility of the numerous building departments that approved building permits. Hold those people and municipalities personally responsible!
Busted Link
September 24th, 2009
8:25 am
The FEMA link takes you to a page not found message, not to the document you describe.
Busted Link
September 24th, 2009
8:38 am
The correct address to the document is: http://www.fema.gov/cis/GA.pdf the GA must be capitalized in the address
AJ
September 24th, 2009
9:14 am
My home was not in a “flood Zone” but was flooded within inches of my ceiling. Total loss. I did not carry flood insurance, as others on my street didn’t and were also flooded. I keep trying to find a website or a phone number victims can call. I have no idea what to do, and I imagine most in my position don’t either. We are in shock, we are frightened, we are exhausted, heartbroken, sad, scared and some of us have lost loved ones in a most horrible way! We have lost our homes, and until you know what feels like, you can’t even imagine it. Please stop criticizing people who don’t live in flood zones that didn’t have flood insurance. That’s not fair nor does it even make sense to say those things. Most of us victims of this flood did not have it. My home was origianlly built in the early 60’s and has never flooded until now. Instead of using your effort to criticize, use it to figure what you might do to help somone. Flood insurance or not, this is a real disater in the areas hit by this. And I know first hand just how bad it really is.
Andy
September 24th, 2009
9:17 am
I had water damage to the carpet in my basement, but there was no flooding in my neighborhood in Roswell. I believe the damage was caused by the gutters that just couldn’t handle 20 inches of rain in 24 hours. They overflowed and the water either seeped into my basement from the outside, or, perhaps, from inside the wall. Would this be covered by my homeowners policy, or would the insurance company consider this “flood” damage, even though there was no flooding or standing water?
MRoss
September 24th, 2009
9:34 am
I am in a flood plan and I did not require flood insurance and they stated that 7% of houses in the area had to be flooded in order to collect. I was not able to buy flood insurance. I also know that the towns planning boards are not doing their jobs when giving builders permits to build in an area without the proper engineering of the run offs. I have the engineering reports that the water would not go more than 25 feet every 100 years and I am 80 feet from a 8 foot stream.
Ralph
September 24th, 2009
9:42 am
Hey Patsy – we’re ALREADY paying for the un-insured’s medical care. Look in every hospital emergency room in the country.
If you “want” to switch insurance carriers – why should the new carrier have to give you rates as if you weren’t an increased risk? Should we do that with car insurance companies when premiums get high for drunk drivers and those with wrecks and citiations? Who do you think actually pays for schemes, and why should it end up on the backs of those who actually pay for increased risk?
Losing insurance is a different matter and “assigned risk” pools is a better solution than just ignoring increased risk spreading that cost among everyone. If you have more money in your accounts than I, please spread the wealth.
Pat
September 24th, 2009
11:14 am
Hey Ralph-
Dont’ think you read any my posts, b/c your comments don’t address anything I’ve talked about. Please come back when you’ve read what I’ve typed. Until then, you won’t get a reasonable response.
Insurance Lady
October 1st, 2009
2:16 pm
I am an insurance agent. I have gotten numerous phone calls regarding buying flood insurance. The thing is I don’t think that people who are not in flood areas and who would normally not need flood insurance should purchase it. That is only my opinion. At the end of the day insurance is for the “what if”. After reading the majority of the thread, some people need to get a grip, their comments have nothing to do with the matter at hand.
Jane
October 1st, 2009
11:01 pm
Please explain why, when the new automotive uninsured motorist coverage was forced on people, there did not seem to be any explanation of what your increased premium was buying versus what you probably already have if you have 2+ cars in your household. Let me try to get this explained right. The new uninsured motorist policy potentially adds the value of the other person’s policy to yours but if they don’t have any insurance you get nothing because “your policy plus nothing equals your policy”. If you have several cars in your household, you have available in the event of an accident with an uninsured person, the SUM of all your policies uninsured motorist coverage AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. This means that if you have $100,000 UE coverage on each of 2 vehicles you own, then you really have $200,000 coverage already. Why pay more for something that you may get $0 for in the event that the other person has no insurance? This seemed to be a big secret when they were jamming the new uninsured motorist coverage down our throats. Not only that but you could not opt out from this new coverage (and the associated fees you would be paying) UNLESS you opted out in writing. Why? I can set coverage levels for everything else on my policy via phone, why did this require the additional difficulty to get out from participating in unless I DID IT IN WRITING? If there was anything said by Oxendine or any one else in the insurance industry explaining this to the public, I did not hear it. It seemed like a nice package all gift wrapped for the insurance industry that was going to get to collect all those additional premiums for policy coverage that was forced on the public without a true explanation of what the free alternatives were if you already had multiple vehicles in your household in your name. Call your insurance company and ask about this.
Frederico
October 2nd, 2009
12:03 am
I had a problem with flood insurance when I was required by my mortgage company to carry flood coverage on the entire outstanding balance of my mortgage. I complained that a portion of the loan value was for the structure and a portion was for the land it sat on. Flood insurance DOES NOT COVER LAND. Therefore I was paying for flood insurance coverage on something that flood insurance does not cover… THE LAND. My complaint was rejected
George
October 2nd, 2009
12:18 am
Why is everyone up in arms about the prospect of socialized health care? You all have welcomed socialized education with open arms. I don’t have any kids but I’m expected to pay for your kids education. Why? PAY FOR YOUR OWN DAMN KIDS EDUCATION. As soon as socialized health care comes along, I’m going to quit my job and retire. With no income, you suckers will pay for my health care just like I’ve paid for your kids education for all these years. I can’t wait. Thank you jesus.
Todd Moore
October 4th, 2009
1:08 am
Don’t listen to Clark Howard on anything that pertains to insurance. He is more often than not wrong. As Mr. Oxendine states, flood insurance is available to everyone living in a community that participates in the Federal flood program. You do not have to have a “premium policy” as Mr. Oxendine states to get backup of sewer or drain coverage. It is an endorsement to any HO-3 or 5 policy. Yes you pay extra but very minimal. I never issue a policy without the coverage.
Licensed Insurance Agent (Unlike Clark Howard)
Robert
October 13th, 2009
2:31 pm
According to Cobb County, my home is located in a ‘newly deliniated’ 100 year (7.7 inch in 24 hours) flood plain. This requires me to pay flood insurance. On the day of the ‘big flood’, a neighbor and I recorded 19 inches of rain within 24 hours, which is over a 200 year flood, and my house, nor my property recieved flooding-just a lot of rain. I suppose I should have a conversation with Cobb engineers for that?
Will
November 4th, 2009
12:20 am
Thanks to Todd Moore chiming in. Good to have a professional weigh in with something helpful to dispel a few myths. I do find the general “sense of entitlement” from people a little funny. If you own property, and don’t own flood insurance, why would you think it’s someone else’s issue to make you whole after a flood? Argh. ( some more insurance tips )
tanygeo
June 3rd, 2010
5:41 am
The society is facing problems with such laws. This has to go legal and it’s needed to be sorted at the earlier. The initiative taken for the concern is very serious and need an attention of every one. This is the concern which exists in the society and needs to be eliminated from the society as soon as possible.
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Insurance
samantha
June 7th, 2010
8:50 am
The society is facing problems with such laws. This has to go legal and it’s needed to be sorted at the earlier.
Smile Travel Insurance