What You Need to Know About Flood Insurance in Maryland
We experience different types of disasters, but floods are one of the most common and most damaging. This calamity can affect any person in the country. In recent years, the spate of floods has caused significant damage to homes and entire communities. While there’s nothing we can do to prevent floods from happening, buying flood insurance for your house can help tremendously.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in Maryland defines a flood as a general and temporary condition. However, it can lead to loss of life or damaged property due to water or mudflow. This article will guide you and help you understand the many benefits of getting flood insurance Maryland to protect your homes.
How Does Flood Insurance in Maryland Work?
Maryland, a mid-Atlantic state in the United States, is well-known for the beauty of its natural resources, such as beaches. However, despite its beautiful nature, Maryland is prone to flooding. During heavy rains, flash floods come and cause flood damage to homes and establishments. The effect of prolonged steady rain then creates general flooding. Due to excessive rainfall, creeks and the riverbanks overflow and eventually reach residential areas.
Under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the standard flood insurance policy directly pays for any damage to your property or any replacement and the actual cash value (ACV) of the damages. The NFIP insures your house for up to $250,000 and $100,000 for your home’s content.
Furthermore, your personal belongings and your house come with separate deductibles. You can choose your deductibles — the higher your deductibles, the lower you pay in terms of premiums coverage.
However, there are a few limits that you should be aware of:
- You cannot increase your deductibles if you have mortgages.
- You cannot use the flood insurance immediately upon signing up, you need to wait for thirty days.
What Does Flood Insurance Cover?
Flood insurance provides coverage for the structure of the home and personal belongings in case of damage. Usually, flood insurance covers:
- Appliances
- Carpet and flooring
- Cabinets
- Electrical and plumbing
- Heating and air units
However, structure and personal property coverages typically have separate limits and deductibles. That’s why it’s important to read the policy details carefully before making a decision.
What Isn’t Covered by Flood Insurance?
The cause of the flooding is very important when determining coverage. Flood insurance covers losses that are directly caused by flooding. In other words, when an excess of water on land that is normally dry affects two or more acres of land or two or more properties, that is considered a flood.
Let’s say a sewer backup caused damage. If the backup is a direct result of flooding, then it can be covered. But if the backup is not caused directly by flooding, the damage is not covered.
Does Car Insurance Cover Flood Damage?
When it comes to car flood cover, you need to have comprehensive car insurance to be covered.
Usually, this coverage is not mandatory, but if your car is under 10 years old and is worth more than $3,000, you should consider having this insurance. While car insurance can be pricey, it protects your vehicle from unpredictable events like flooding and heavy rains.
Does House Insurance Offer Flood Coverage?
Flood insurance is a part of any standard home insurance policy. That said, house insurance covers you for damages and losses caused by a flood. If you make a claim for flood damage, your insurer will pay out to repair or rebuild your home and replace destroyed possessions.
Can I Get Flood Insurance for Manufactured Homes?
Yes. Typically, a standard manufactured home insurance policy covers electronics and appliances, furniture and clothing, medical expenses and legal fees if someone is injured on your property. However, there are additional policies that cover precious valuables, like jewelry and flood coverage that protects your mobile home from severe water damage.
How Much Does Flood Insurance Cost?
According to the Federal Emergency Federal Agency (FEMA), the average quote for commercial flood insurance is about $500 a year, or about $42 a month. Premiums usually vary depending on:
- Your location and flood zone
- The risk of loss in your area
- The amount and type of coverage you need
- The preferred deductible amount
How Do I Get Cheap Flood Insurance?
Flood insurance costs depend mostly on how much flood risk is associated with your property. That said, mitigating your flood risk not only protects your property against flood damage but also helps you lower insurance costs. Also, many insurance companies offer lower premiums when you bundle home and flood insurance.
What is Landlord Flood Insurance?
Water damage is one of the most expensive claims that cost billions for landlords every year. To protect yourself from this type of damage, you should consider getting landlord flood insurance for your rental property.
No one can predict what the future holds. What you need to do is to prepare for all scenarios, especially natural calamities. Even if you are living in a low-risk area in Maryland, purchasing insurance for floods in Maryland is always a wise decision.
You can also contact your insurer about your existing insurance policy and ask for a new insurance quote for better coverage and protection of your assets and investments.
Did you find this article interesting? If so, you might also want to find out more about Business Renters Insurance.
