Public Works: Floodproofing

When Water Attacks: A Homeowner's Guide to Floodproofing

Part I : Flooding
Part II : Basement problems
Part II.a : Basement Protection Berm
Part III.a : Sewer Backup Prevention - Floor Drain Plug
Part III.b : Sewer Backup Prevention - Standpipe
Part III.c : Sewer Backup Prevention - Overhead Sewer
Part III.d : Sewer Backup Prevention - Backup Valve

Part IV : Insurance

Insurance
Flood insurance is highly recommended. Remember, even if the last storm or flood missed you or you have done some floodproofing, the next flood could be worse. Most homeowner's insurance policies do not cover property for flood damage.

Almost every community in northeastern Illinois with a flood problem participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. Local insurance agents can sell a flood insurance policy under rules and rates set by the Federal government. Any agent can sell a policy and all agents must charge the same rates.

Any house can be covered by a flood insurance policy. Detached garages and accessory buildings are covered under the policy for the lot's main building. Separate coverage can be obtained for the building's structure and for its contents (except for money, valuable papers, and the like). The structure generally includes everything that stays in the house when it is sold, including the furnace, cabinets, built-in appliances, and wall-to-wall carpeting.

There is no coverage for things outside the house, like the driveway and landscaping. Renters can buy contents coverage, even if the owner does not buy structural coverage on the building.

Some people have purchased flood insurance because the bank required it when they got a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually these policies just cover the building's structure and not the contents. During the kind of flooding that happens in most northeastern Illinois, there is usually more damage to the furniture and contents than there is to the structure.

Several insurance companies have sump pump failure or sewer backup coverage that can be added to a homeowner's insurance policy. Each company has different amounts of coverage, exclusions, deductibles, and arrangements. Most are riders that cost extra. Most exclude damage from surface flooding that would be covered by the National Flood Insurance policy. The cost varies from nothing to up to about $75 for a rider on your homeowner's insurance premium.

Precautions
Flood insurance does not cover contents in a basement or the finished structural parts of a basement, such as paneling or wall to wall carpeting. Flood insurance only covers damage where there is a general condition of surface flooding in the area.

Many insurance policies will only pay to repair the damage incurred. If your damage is severe enough, you may have additional costs to bring your building up to current codes. Flood insurance now covers these costs (up to $15,000) when there is a flood. Check your homeowner's insurance policy to see if it has this coverage for fire, wind, or other hazard.