Flood insurance may not be just for those who live in flood plains, according to Heather Loney, an agent with Independent Insurance Services in Marshalltown.
Rather, it can be purchased by nearly anyone who thinks they may be at some risk from flooding. As the snow melt continues and rivers creep up, the potential for flooding this year is significant, according to forecasters.
In addition to the melting, strong spring storms could make a bad situation even worse.
There are a number of things to keep in mind about flood insurance.
The first is that everyone lives in a flood zone or has risks associated with a flood. No matter how high or low a flood risk is, insurance can be purchased to protect from flooding if you live in a community which participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which Marshalltown does.
The higher your flood insurance risk, the more money the policy will cost.
Another thing to keep in mind is the way policies handle basements. Not all are the same. If you have a walk-out basement, then you may find that all contents are protected, depending on the area, she said.
"If you have a more traditional basement, with all four sides underground, then contents would not be covered," Loney said.
In other words, if there is a potential for flooding, make sure the contents in the basement are kept as high and dry as possible.
Some equipment in a traditional basement, which many homeowners may think of as contents, could also be protected as being part of the home's structure. This includes things like a furnace and central air conditioning unit, both of which could be very expensive to replace.
Those who are thinking about getting flood insurance for the spring should act soon. There is a 30-day waiting period before the policy goes into effect, Loney said.
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com