Kouri Insurance Agency E'Notes
 
Volume 3     Issue 2 The Water Issue - Special Edition
Kouri Agents
The Water Issue
 
As a rule, our idea is to limit our newsletters to a quarterly cycle to keep them interesting and not take a lot of your time. We know you are busy.
 
We decided to publish a "special edition" due to the amount of snow on the ground and on our rooftops. This has been one of those winters we use as an example when we tell our kids how much rougher we had it growing up!
 
I encourage you to read on and follow the links in the articles as we try to address some of the issues we may be facing this Spring. An ounce of prevention will go a long way this year.A good link to start with is this one: 
     
DisasterSafety.org
 
A disaster safety home and business protection tool from the Institute for Business & Home Safety. Do-it-yourself projects to protect your home from natural disasters including: earthquake, flood, freezing weather, hail, high winds, hurricane, tornado and wildfire.
 
 
Warm regards,
  
Bryan Kouri
1. Ice Dams. What are they? What do they do?
 Messy, but preventable.
 
This is easily the worst year for ice dams that any of us can remember. The scary part is that the worst is likely yet to come. The good part is that there is still time to reduce or eliminate the potential for damage. When ice dams form, they prevent the melting snow from exiting the roof through your gutters. Since the water needs to go somewhere, it finds the gaps in your shingles and ends up in your attic. From there the damage starts, and it can be extensive.
 
What can be done? The fix is to remove the ice dam so that water can flow down the roof freely. Due to the risk of injury or shingle damage, we suggest using a qualified roofer or contractor for this work. Generally, ice dam removal is not covered under your policy, though the resulting damage might be. Since insurance pays above your deductible, preventing the damage is still your best option.
 
2. What happens if I flood?
Does my insurance provide any coverage..
 
Flood damage is not covered by homeowners and most standard commercial property insurance policies. Statistics indicate that:
 
  1. Homeowners are 4 times more likely to suffer a loss from flood than from fire.
  2. 70 to 80% of all natural disasters in the U.S. involve flooding.
 
Unfortunately, lack of awareness of flood exposure cause many to go without flood insurance.  Less than 1% of properties in high risk flood zones in Iowa had flood insurance at the time of the June 2008 floods!
 
With the moisture we have had this Winter, this is a good time to consider flood insurance. Especially true if you live in a low lying area or have a lake home.  It is important to remember that a flood policy is not effective until 30 days after the application is taken. For example, if you apply for a flood policy on March 1st, the policy begins coverage 30 days later on April 1st. Please give us a call if you would like to discuss this coverage further.
 
A very good site is provided by the National Flood Insurance Program at:
 
Floodsmart.gov The official site of the National Flood Insurance Program
 
 
Click below for a great summary of what the flood program covers:
3. Perhaps the biggest potential is water seepage.
Along the same lines is water backup..
 
In Sioux Falls, I anticipate that many of our water losses will involve water seepage or water backup from sewers and drains or the sump pit.
 
Water Seepage:
 
It is important to remember that the home policy excludes damage from water seepage into your basement. This happens when the ground is too saturated and water comes in through windows or the foundation. The home policy does not cover this type of damage and there is no option to purchase this protection.
 
A couple of tips to reduce the potential for seepage losses: 
  1.  Make sure your gutters and downspouts are in good condition and that the water from the downspouts is directed well away from the foundation.
  • Make sure the ground surrounding your foundation slopes away from the house, thus encouraging water to run away from your basement walls.
    • Water Backup and Sump Pump:
     
    The home policy also excludes water backup and sump pump type claims, but this coverage may be purchased up to certain limits. We offer this coverage option at the time of sale. While many add this coverage, not everybody does. The coverage and limit varies depending on the option and company you have chosen. If you do not see it on your policy, or if you have questions, please give us a call.
     
    To help reduce the potential for losses from your sump pump, please test your pump to ensure it is in good working condition. Too often, the first sign of trouble with a pump comes too late as the water has already started coming in.
     
     
     
     
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