Residential Contents Coverage:
Protecting Personal Property With Flood Insurance

Chehalis, WA - Karen McGhee and her husband Terry have rented multiple homes in the City of Chehalis, Washington over the years. In 1990, they sat in their hilltop house and watched as floodwaters rose throughout the town below them.

Years later, in 1996, after having relocated to a new rental property, the McGhees had a much closer look at the water as their home was inundated by record flooding. They were forced to evacuate the property for seven days and suffered significant damage and loss of many of their belongings. Following this event, the McGhees purchased renter’s flood insurance to protect the contents of their home.

Only insurance companies within communities participating in the NFIP can provide this federally subsidized coverage. Following the flooding of 1996, the McGhee’s landlord chose to elevate all his rental properties to at least one foot above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), which is defined as flood levels having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.

With their home damaged in the flood, the McGhees elected to move to another of the landlord’s properties, which had a bigger house that had also been elevated and more land for them to grow a garden and raise various animals.

Even after moving to their new home, the McGhees chose to maintain their flood insurance policy, transferring it to the new rental property. Mrs. McGhee reported that establishing the policy and making changes to it was easy and convenient.

One of the advantages of the NFIP is that the financial risk is spread across the country, making insurance policies available to residents of participating communities at extremely reasonable rates, especially for those people living outside the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

In December 2007, when weather conditions once again resulted in record flooding throughout Lewis County, the McGhee’s house came under threat of inundation. With an hour’s warning, they were forced to grab what they could and flee their home.

Upon returning once the water had receded, they learned that despite their house having been elevated above the BFE, there had been three feet of water in their house, and that at least three inches of mud was left behind. Sadly, many of their animals were lost to the high water, and their gardens were ruined.

Packing up what they could salvage, the McGhees once again relocated, moving back to the home they had lived in prior to the 1996 flood. They filed their claim with the insurance company and went through the process of filling out paperwork and getting their inspection. Mrs. McGhee stressed the importance of preparation both before and during this period.

Since filing with their insurance company, the McGhees have learned that they are being covered for the depreciated value of their damaged property. For an investment of less than $100 a year, they are receiving over $10,000 in coverage.