Protect Your Home with Flood Insurance
Fast melting snow combined with severe storms and heavy rainfall has the potential to cause extensive flooding. With bodies of water throughout the state such as the Great Miami and Ohio Rivers, Ohio is at heightened flood risk in the spring and summer months. Property owners and renters need to be aware of these risks, and financially prepare for the damage floods can cause.
Ohio Flood Facts:
- In the past 10 years, Ohio experienced 10 federally declared disasters. For example, in August 2007, severe storms and flooding caused more than $240 million in damages in just over a week to numerous Ohio counties, including Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland, Seneca, and Wyandot. In 2007 alone, insured flood losses totaled more than $40.6 million.
- Currently, there are about 40,000 flood insurance policies in force in Ohio, approximately 26,000 of which are in high-risk areas. However, many State of Ohio residents remain at risk as less than one percent of households are covered by a flood insurance policy.
- Residents need to be reminded that most homeowners’ policies do not cover flood damage – only flood insurance policies provide financial protection from flooding.
- Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to become effective, so the time to get protected is now!
Now is the time for home and business owners to be reminded of the dangers of flooding and the importance of protecting their homes, businesses, and assets with flood insurance – before the spring flooding season begins and it’s too late.
Ohio Flood Risks
- Snow Melt. Spring thaw can produce large amounts of runoff in a short period of time, as each cubic foot of compacted snow contains gallons of water. Because the ground is hard and frozen, water cannot penetrate and be reabsorbed. The water then runs off the surface and flows into lakes, streams, and rivers, causing excess water to spill over their banks.
- A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas in less than six hours, which is caused by intense rainfall from a thunderstorm. Flash floods can also occur from the collapse of a man-made structure or ice dam.
Do you have a plan? A flood does not have to be a catastrophic event to bring high out-of-pocket costs, and you do not have to live in a high-risk flood area to suffer flood damage. Ohio property owners should remember to:
- Purchase a flood insurance policy if you do not already have one or review your current insurance policy to ensure your home and contents are adequately covered.
- Make a flood plan. Plan evacuation routes. Keep important papers in a safe, waterproof place. Conduct a home inventory; itemize and take pictures of possessions.
Please Contact the Fay Insurance Group so we can sit down and evaluate your individual situation.
Do I need Earthquake Insurance?
Do I need Earthquake Insurance in Centerville Ohio?
Earthquakes happen in Ohio! Most traditional home insurance policies do not cover earthquake movements. You may wish to opt-in for Earthquake Insurance. Earthquake insurance coverage is available here in Ohio.
Earthquake Preparation
No one can predict when an earthquake may strike, but what you can do is be proactive and be prepared with an action plan, to stay safe during and after an earthquake.
Learn how to make an Earthquake Action Plan for you and your family.
How to Build an Earthquake Action Plan
As an insurance agency (and not a crack team of seismologists and geologists) we don’t know when and where the next earthquake will hit. But what we do know at the Fay Insurance Group of insurance agents is the importance of safety and preparedness. So here are some important steps to build your own Earthquake Action Plan.
Prepare – Building Your Earthquake Action Plan
The only way to be ready for the unexpected is to prepare ahead of time. That’s why it’s important to have an Earthquake Action Plan in place for you, your family, and your business.
1. Talk to your friends and family, and decide on a place to meet if you’re separated after an earthquake.
2. Make an emergency communication plan in case cell towers or phone lines are down. You can also ask a relative or friend outside your area to be your contact.
3. Locate a safe place in every room of your home, and discuss with your family the safest places to be during an earthquake. Remember, if you’re:
a. Inside, get under something heavy like a sturdy table or against an inside wall and cover your head.
b. Outside, stay away from buildings and get out into the open.
c. In your car, stop and stay in your seat. If you’re stopped near a building or under an overpass,
try to safely move away from them.
4. Store first aid kits anywhere you spend a lot of time (home, car, work, etc.).
5. Pack plenty of batteries, flashlights, and bottles of water to prepare for power outages and water shortages. Read our suggestions for a Family Emergency Kit to see what else you should keep on hand.
6. Review your home’s important systems (electrical, gas, water, etc.) and know how to operate them or shut them off in an emergency.
7. Know your earthquake insurance options and eligibility.
Although they’re somewhat rare occurrences, earthquakes are still incredibly scary, overwhelming, and unpredictable forces of nature. But with some knowledge and preparation, we can mitigate risks and keep ourselves and our families safe from disaster.
For more information about Earthquakes and your insurance options:
Any one of us can sit down and evaluate your individual situation with proper earthquake insurance coverage. We are independent homeowner insurance agents with local insurance offices in Centerville (Dayton) Ohio, West Chester (Cincinnati) Ohio, and Northwood (Toledo) Ohio.
