Local experts offer advice for homeowners considering flood insurance claim

Jan. 08--MARSHFIELD -- As seaside residents assess any damage done to their homes by last week's storm, they should know their options before filing flood insurance claims, local experts say.

The nor'easter brought tides that were nearly record-setting.

Joe Rossi and Doris Crary of the Marshfield Citizens Coastal Coalition warn that submitting flood insurance claims can change premiums and statuses with the National Flood Insurance Program. The program has two classifications related to flood losses and insurance claims: repetitive loss and severe repetitive loss.

Repetitive-loss properties are those with at least two claims of more than $1,000 each in any 10-year period, or one loss since 1978 exceeding 50 percent of the structure's value. Severe-repetitive-loss properties are those with at least four separate claims of $5,000 or two or more claims in a 10-year period since 1978 that together exceed the structure's current value.

Rossi stressed that insurance policies are tied to the property, not to the owner. Homeowners should make sure that they know their home's loss history, which they can get from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"It's critically important for homeowners to understand their loss history so that they can decide whether damage is worth filing a claim," he said.

Becoming a severe-repetitive-loss property can have serious impacts on flood insurance, as policy holders can lose any type of subsidy and rate grandfathering, and their premiums will increase drastically, Rossi said.

He said filing claims here and there may not seem like a big deal, but it adds up, especially since the same homes tend to see repeat damage.

Homeowners have 60 days to file a claim. Crary said it is important that homeowners document everything with photos and video before cleaning up, and that they collect any media footage taken of their neighborhood during the storm. Those with serious losses should consider bringing in a public insurance adjuster in addition to the adjuster provided by the insurance company, she said.

Crary and Rossi also said it's also important for homeowners whose property was badly damaged to make sure that they protect their homes from another loss as much as possible before repairs are made.

Reach Jessica Trufant at [email protected].

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