Article: "Flooding Preparedness: A Guide to Flood Survival"

I had noted recently that signs are pointing to potential flooding along the upper Mississippi and Red Rivers because of higher than normal precipitation this winter. Storms have also brought and continue to bring higher than normal snowfall in the Pacific Northwest and Rockies. Accordingly, you may want to brush up on what to do in the event of a flood. Ammo.com has a good article on the topic that covers not just physical preparations but also insurance issues.

     Although it is not as "sexy" as buying bullets and freeze-dried meals, insurance is actually an important part of preparation. As the article mentions, however, most standard home-owner's policies do not include coverage for natural flooding events. A typical exclusion for flood and similar water damage might read:

We do not insure for loss caused directly or indirectly by any of the following. Such loss is excluded regardless of any other cause or event contributing concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.

* * *

Water Damage, meaning:

(1) Flood, surface water, waves, tidal water, overflow of a body of water, or spray from any of these, whether or not driven by wind;

(2) Water which backs up through sewers and or drains or which overflows from a sump; or

(3) Water below the surface of the ground, including water which exerts pressure on or seeps or leaks through a building, sidewalk, driveway, foundation, swimming pool or other structure.

Direct loss by fire, explosion or theft resulting from water damage is covered.

Note: this is an example and your policy may read differently. However, flood insurance may be available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) if your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. You can read up on the FEMA flood insurance program here or discuss it with your insurance agent. And here is another article discussing flood insurance. And this link is to a tool allowing you to search by your address to determine if you are in a flood zone. The last page of this PDF gives definitions of the different flood zones.