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Insurance Blog

Understanding Flood Risk: The Importance of Comprehensive Flood Insurance

In New Jersey, we’ve seen our share of natural disasters over the years. Whether it’s Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, or the countless Nor’easters that roll through town, we’re all too familiar with the dangers that flooding can bring. Flooding can be devastating to your home and personal property, but it can also cause irreparable damage to your finances.

O’Donnell Agency LLC believes it’s essential to understand flood risk and the importance of comprehensive flood insurance.

The Importance of Comprehensive Flood Insurance

Once you know your risk, it’s important to consider a comprehensive flood insurance policy. While standard homeowners insurance policies include coverage for water damage, it doesn’t automatically cover flood damages. Flood insurance is a separate policy that can help you recover financially in the aftermath of a flood. Without flood insurance, you could be facing thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses to repair your home and replace damaged personal property.

It’s also important to note that flood insurance policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins. This means you can’t simply purchase flood insurance when you see a storm coming; you need to have it in place before the next storm hits. Planning ahead can make all the difference in recovering from a flood.

When it comes to flood risk, knowledge is power. Comprehensive flood insurance coverage can help you weather the next storm that hits New Jersey with less financial stress. Purchasing flood insurance is truly an investment in your present and future. If you’re unsure about your flood risk or have questions about flood insurance in New Jersey, reach out to O’Donnell Agency LLC. We can connect you to the coverage that’s right for you.

Why should property owners obtain flood insurance?

If the state of New Jersey, owning a home can be a good idea. If you are a property owner here, you will want to know that your home is covered and protected. A great way to do this is by getting insurance. For some property owners, getting flood insurance is a good idea.

There are various reasons that someone should obtain this coverage

Protect Assets

The most important reason that someone should get flood insurance is so they can protect their assets. If your home is affected by a flood, the costs to remediate your property can be very significant. If you do not have flood insurance, your standard home policy may not offer coverage. Due to this, having flood insurance should be a top priority as it will give you support in these situations. Ultimately, this offers valuable financial protection and will provide peace of mind. 

Meet Insurance Standards

It would also be beneficial to get flood insurance as it will ensure you can meet any insurance requirements and standards that you have. If you have taken out a loan, a lender will run a flood search to determine if you are in a high-risk flood zone. If this is the case for you and your property, you will be required to carry a flood insurance plan at all times. 

Give Us A Call

If you are looking to buy a home in New Jersey, it is important that you do evaluate your needs for flood coverage. As there are a lot of choices to make when looking for this insurance, it would be helpful to call O’Donnell Agency LLC to start your search. O’Donnell Agency LLC knows how important this coverage is and they will offer any support needed to determine your needs and evaluate your options.

How To Prepare for a Flood

Floods can be devastating. They cause billions of dollars in damage and destroy our homes and businesses. The best way to prevent flooding damage is to protect your home and property ahead of time. O’Donnell Agency LLC of New Jersey is here to show you how.

Flood Preparation: What You Need To Do

Preparing The Outside Of Your Home

Keep your drainage system clear by clearing drainpipes, gutters, downspouts, and the washing machine drain. If it’s clogged, water won’t flow well.

You can improve the grade of your lot at home to help prevent flooding by adding soil in low spots, raising the grade in the center of your lot, and removing any rocks or debris that are in the way.

Reducing impervious surfaces will help prevent flooding by reducing the amount of pavement and parking lots. This will help increase the amount of rain that flows into your yard instead of staying on the surface. It will also reduce the amount of runoff that flows into your neighborhood.

Elevating your water heater, furnace, and other utilities is a great way to protect them from flooding. This is especially important if you live in a flood zone or a low-lying area.

Preparing The Inside Of Your Home

Protect your valuables by removing spare objects, large-value items, and essential documents. It’s best to store them in a high-quality, water-resistant safe or bank vault. If you don’t have access to a safe or vault, you can also store them in plastic boxes, Rubbermaid containers, or other airtight containers.

Seal your foundation and basement. This prevents moisture from penetrating the basement walls and prevents water from leaking into the basement.

If you have a basement, you may want to install a sump pump. A sump pump is a device that sits in your basement and pumps water out of your home.

Give Us A Call

Are you a New Jersey resident interested in learning more about flood safety and insurance? Contact O’Donnell Agency LLC today!

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