Flood Insurance

Did you know that your homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage?

Insurance against flood must be separately obtained.

Flood policies can cover water damage to your home, its contents or both. Flood insurance can be purchased to protect your personal belongings even if you are currently renting. A flood insurance policy also reimburses you for the work that you and other family members did to sandbag your home, move furniture and remove debris.

FEMA's maps are important when it comes to flood insurance. If they show that your home sits in a 100-year flood plain, you must buy federal flood insurance in order to get a mortgage. If you live outside a high-risk zone, or if you no longer have a mortgage, flood insurance is optional but you can still purchase a preferred risk policy.

The following precautions are suggestions that residents in flooded areas may want to implement:

• Confirm the water supply is safe to drink. Listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply has been contaminated by the floodwaters. Remember to carry bottled drinking water and discard any food products that may have come in contact with floodwater.

• Wear protective clothing. Protect yourself during cleanup by wearing boots, gloves and masks. Clean and disinfect everything floodwater contacted.

• Ventilate your home. Open all doors and windows to allow air to circulate and dry out your home. Dehumidify as soon as possible after a flood.

• Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pit and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewage systems are serious health hazards.

• Make a list of lost or damaged items. Be sure to include their age and value, and if possible, have receipts for those items available.

• Prevent mold growth. Wash all surface areas in the house that came in contact with floodwater. Disinfect and wipe surfaces dry with paper towels to minimize bacterial contamination.

• Isolate any moldy objects. Seal moldy trash in plastic bags and remove them immediately. Objects you can save should be dried or frozen as soon as possible. Freezing inactivates mold.

For more tips on cleaning up and keeping your family safe, visit www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/, www.minnesotarecovers.org  or the CDC’s flood website at www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/.

FEMA coordinates the Federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of safe.