Should You Get Flood Insurance?

1. Should You Get Flood Insurance? According to FEMA, floods are the nations most common natural disaster. Surprisingly though, flood damage is rarely covered under homeowners or renters insurance policies. Utah is considered to be a desert state, with low yearly rainfall amounts in comparison to other states. As a result, flooding is typically not high on the list of concerns for most Layton homeowners. So how do you know if you should get a flood policy for your home? First, you can find out if you live in a flood zone and what the risk of flood damage is for your area. If you are in a flood zone, most mortgage lenders will require that you have flood insurance. But if you are not in a flood zone, is flood insurance worth it? We at Swift Restoration want to talk costs to help make you more informed when it comes to flood cleanup.How much will it cost you? The national average price of water damage restoration is $2,700, but normally ranges anywhere between $400 to $7,500. This number will vary based on a number of factors, the main one being the category of water that caused the damage. Water categories are determined by the source of water and amount/type of contaminants found in the water. There are three categories of water, one being the cleanest and safest, and three being the most dangerous and contaminated. Category 1 water (clean water) restoration averages $3.75 per square foot of damage, while Category 2 water (gray water) averages $4.50 per square foot of damage. Category 3 water (black water) is around $7.00 per square foot and is the most damaging and dangerous form of water damage. Sources of Category 3 water include broken sewer line, backed-up sewer mains, extended rain events, and flash floods from natural disasters or severe weather. Flood insurance may be the right answer for you The State of Utah Insurance Department warns that winters with heavy snowfall, and springs with above average rainfall put homeowners at a higher risk for flooding. Whether you are in a high-risk zone or not, it is always a good idea to look into flood insurance. FEMA warns that if

2. you live in an area with low or moderate flood risk, you are still five times more likely to experience flooding over a fire in your home over the next 30 years. For many homeowners, flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program could cost less than $400 per year. That number sounds much better than the average $2,700 you could be spending in flood cleanup costs. Because damage ensued from Category 3 water is worse than any other water damage, the cleanup cost will more than likely be higher. At the end of the day, it is your call whether or not to add flood insurance protection to your home. Water damage is devastating and expensive, and it is important to know that the team at Swift Restoration is ready to help if flooding occurs, whether you have flood insurance or not. We are ready to help Swift Restoration provides emergency flood cleanup services in and around Weber and Davis County. We work with many insurance companies, contractors, public adjusters, and management companies for water damage. We use our expertise to guide you through the claim process. If you are not enrolled with an insurance company or policy that will cover water damage from flooding, we will be happy to offer you a competitive price. Our goal is to make sure you are taken care of and to get your home restored as quickly as possible. Flood insurance can help protect the home you have built, and give you peace of mind if disaster strikes. But whether your home is covered or not, the team at Swift will be there to take care of all your flood cleanup needs.