From flood insurance claims to FEMA aid, what SC residents need to know after Idalia

State (Columbia, SC)

If you have experienced damage to your house from Idalia, contact your insurance company immediately and be aware, the damage may require multiple claims — home, auto and flood — from the different types of insurance you have already.

Your homeowners policy does not cover flooding, which is expected to be the most pervasive problem in the Midlands due to the heavy rain.

You need a specific policy for damage caused by flooding. Most people purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Flood insurance is not required by law in South Carolina, but mortgage companies may require it in certain areas. Flood insurance typically doesn’t cover damage to landscaping, finished basements or pools, according to insurance.com.

Policygenius, which specializes in comparing policies from various companies, said an inch of flood water can cause $25,000 in damages, and 90% of natural disasters in the U.S. involve flooding.

Homeowners insurance typically covers damages to windows, roofs and siding. Some policies will cover the cost of a hotel if the house is uninhabitable.

Car damages are covered by your comprehensive car insurance policy.

Photograph and video the damage, and provide pictures of what the house looked like before the storm as well as offer a detailed list of what was damaged to your adjuster.

The adjuster also will come out to assess the damage.

If the storm is declared a disaster in South Carolina by President Joe Biden at the request of Gov. Henry McMaster, FEMA aid will become available to cover any gaps in insurance coverage or for people who do not have flood insurance.

Help could be available to Individuals, public entities and some private ones, and hazard mitigation assistance may be available to reduce future losses to public and private property.

McMaster declared a state of emergency in South Carolina Tuesday ahead of the storm. Biden approved that request.

McMaster said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon he had talked with Biden earlier in the day and the president promised whatever help the state needed. Asked how that conversation went, McMaster said politics doesn’t play a role in a disaster.