California’s Oroville Dam Crisis Highlights Importance of Flood Insurance, Preparedness

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 14 -- The Insurance Information Institute issued the following news release:

Homeowners and businesses in California's Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties who have flood insurance will be covered if the Lake Oroville Dam's auxiliary spillway fails, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

"The potential for flooding poses a significant threat to life and property in these three northern California counties and has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents," said Janet Ruiz, the I.I.I.'s California Representative. "Standard homeowners, renters and business insurance policies do not cover flood-caused damage. A separate flood insurance policy is needed." Lake Oroville Dam is in Butte County.

Flood insurance is available from FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and a few private insurance companies. NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period before the coverage is activated. Excess flood insurance policies are also available from some private insurers if additional coverage is needed above and beyond the basic FEMA NFIP policy. To learn more about flood insurance, visit the FloodSmart.gov.

If your home or business is near a river, lake, stream, creek, dam or other body of water, the I.I.I. recommends taking these three steps in order to assess your property's flood risks.

* Contact your insurance professional. Take the time to ask questions and be sure you understand all of your insurance options. It will help you make informed decisions about your insurance coverage.

* Prepare an emergency plan. The I.I.I.'s free mobile app, Know Your Plan, makes it easy to be ready when disaster strikes. Preparedness information is also available from FEMA's Ready.gov and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Weather Ready Nation.

* Conduct a home inventory. Documenting your belongings will help you buy the right amount, and type, of insurance. A home inventory also makes claim filing easier and can be used to document financial losses when filing tax returns or applying for post-disaster financial assistance. Using the I.I.I.'s Know Your Stuff app will ensure you have an updated home inventory, accessible anywhere, any time.

RELATED LINKS

* Facts and Statistics: Flood Insurance (http://www.iii.org/facts_statistics/flood-insurance.html); Homeowners Insurance (http://www.iii.org/facts_statistics/homeowners-and-renters-insurance.html)

* Article: How to Protect Your Home From Water Damage (http://www.iii.org/articles/how-to-protect-your-home-from-water-damage.html)

* Video: Water and Flood Damage (http://www.iii.org/video/water-and-flood-damage-what-is-and-is-not-covered.html)

[Category: Insurance]

MSTRUCK-5776285 MSTRUCK