Protection from water damage

2014-05-22
By: Advocate Brokerage

Rain

It makes the flowers grow leaving behind a beautiful blanket of colorful flowers.
It can also leave behind leaky roofs and flooded basements.

We are in the midst of spring’s rainy season but once we round the corner and begin heading toward summer, the threat doesn’t end, hurricane season is there waiting for us on the horizon.

You will want to do all you can to protect yourself from the threat of damage water can bring.  That can mean taking physical precautions in and around your home to keep things dry when the rain comes as well as being proactive and meeting with your favorite insurance Advocate to be sure you have coverage in place suited to your particular needs.

A recent article on the Westchester Business Journal website from our friends at Chubb offered some practical tips to help homeowners, particularly those with finished basements, protect their personal property when rising water levels threaten to seep into their renovated spaces.  You can read the full article “Elaborate Basements at Risk When Skies Darken,” by clicking the link or review the tips below:

• Set up a line of defense.  “…the first line of defense against excessive rain is outside the home. The topography around a home can have a major impact on whether the basement stays dry. The ground and patios surrounding a home should slope away from the foundation and toward drains and streams.”
• Keep water pathways clear.  “Rain gutters should be kept clean and downspouts should extend far enough to direct the rainwater away from the home.”
• Extract water before it reaches the basement floor with a sump pump.  “…these systems should pump the excess water far away from the home.”
• Install a back-up power system to keep the sump pump running in the case of a power outage.  “Ideally, homeowners should have an automatic backup generator that runs on natural gas or propane. Some generators can power the entire house, while others keep the juice flowing to critical systems, like sump pumps, lights, alarm systems, refrigerators and garage door openers.”
• Keep valuables off the floor.  “Even if you’ve taken every precaution to keep your basement dry, there is still a chance that water will make its way inside.”

Water damage is the second most frequent insurance claim in the US resulting in billions of dollars in damage annually.  The trouble is that a homeowner’s insurance policy doesn’t usually protect you from damage due to flooding.  Purchasing a separate flood insurance policy can give homeowners peace of mind.   If you have questions as to the best solutions for your family, we urge you to get in contact with us.  We would be happy to discuss your options.