HOUSTON — Ahead of hurricane season, it’s a good time to make sure you and your family are covered for the next natural disaster.
“In reality, the entire country can flood if the conditions are right," says Gilbert Giron, a regional flood insurance liaison with FEMA.
He says most people don’t realize your home insurance policy does not cover a flood.
“Homeowners can purchase the level of flood insurance they can afford, even a $100,000 of flood insurance is better than nothing at all," said Giron.
- $100,000 is the max for covering the contents inside your house
- $250,000 is the limit for the actual structure of your home
It may sound like a lot of money, but Giron cautions against skipping insurance and relying solely on government assistance.
“There are some events that appear to be large scale at first, but they don’t meet certain guidelines and a declaration won’t be declared, leaving those homeowners on their own," said Giron.
Watch Grace White's extended interview with Giron:
After Hurricane Harvey, Giron says the average flood insurance check was $116,000 and for disaster assistance from the government it was $4,000.
“So, I would encourage you to reach out to your agent now, start the process and get that 30 day wait completed so you are totally covered before hurricane season actually gets here," said Giron.
If you are a renter and have insurance that covers the contents inside your rental home, it does not include flood coverage. Many renters in the Houston area learned that the hard way after Harvey. Renters should consider buying a separate policy to cover flooding.
If you have a problem and need help, email GraceCanHelp@khou.com, call (713) 521-HELP or fill out the form below.