Flood Insurance: A Good Investment
Release Date: August 4, 1999
Release Number: 1282-22
» More Information on Iowa Severe Storms and Flooding
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- You don't need to live near water to be flooded. Flooding can be caused by storms, melting snow, water backup from inadequate or overloaded drainage systems and dam or levee failure.
Unfortunately, many homeowners and business owners do not discover until too late that their policy does not provide coverage if damaged by flooding. You can protect your home, business and belongings with flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Contact any private insurance company and ask about flood insurance or the NFIP at 1-800-427-4661 for additional information. There is a 30-day waiting period before the coverage goes into effect.
If your community participates in the NFIP, you may buy flood insurance. It doesn't matter if you have been flooded before, live in a flood zone or if your flood risk is high, medium, or low. Almost 25 percent of all flood insurance claims come from low-to moderate-risk areas. Check with your local officials to see if your community participates in the NFIP.
Flood insurance is affordable. The average flood insurance policy costs a little more than $300 a year for about $100,000 of coverage. A policy for a dwelling in low- to moderate-risk areas may be as low as $100 a year.
Under the NFIP, a maximum coverage of $250,000 for single-family homes, $250,000 per unit for multifamily residences and $100,000 for contents is available. Maximum coverage for businesses is $500,000 for non-residential buildings and $500,000 for contents.
Iowa residents who sustained damages from the July storms and floods may still register for assistance by calling 1-800-462-9029. The TTY number for hearing- or speech-impaired is 1-800-462-7585. Both numbers are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.
Last Modified: Monday, 15-Dec-2003 11:55:37