My basement flooded during recent December storm, will my insurance cover the damages?

Many of our customers sustained water damage to homes, condos, and apartments from heavy rains that drenched the greater Seattle area December 2nd and 3rd. Unfotunately, most standard home and business insurance policies don’t cover storm related flood and water losses. Further, most insurance policies do not cover any type of water damage caused by surface water flooding, seepage, leakage, or storm, sewer, or sump pump back-up. Water damage is usually covered on a homeowner’s policy is when a pipe suddenly and accidentally bursts, while most other types of water damage are not covered.

Our agency offers flood insurance in Washington State protection through the National Flood Insurance Program, however the flood policy excludes most damage to basements. Flood insurance only covers flood damage; it does not cover leakage or seepage in basements where there was no surface water. Some losses that are not covered by insurance may be filed with a local government entity if water damage caused due to the back up of a city maintained storm water or sewer system.

To submit a claim contact the city or government entity that is responsible for the water back-up:

King County - 800-523-5044
http://www.metrokc.gov/prepare/

Snohomish County - (425) 388-5060 www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Emergency_Management

City of Everett - 425-257-8800
http://www.everettwa.org/default.aspx?ID=62

City of Mukilteo - 425.355.4141, Ext. 225
http://ci.mukilteo.wa.us/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=10

City of Seattle - (206) 684-8213
http://www.seattle.gov/riskmanagement/

If you need guidance on how to begin to repair damages here are few helpful links:

Pumping out a flooded basement
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/disaster/basementflood.htm

Mold Prevention
http://www.epa.gov/mold/table1.html

Dealing with flood damage (news story w/ links)
http://www.komotv.com/news/consumer/12102331.html

To clients of the Cascadia Agency – if you have incurred water damage from the recent storm please call our agency at 425-353-1499 for advice on how to process the claim.

If you are thinking about buying flood insurance there is one important statistic to remember; almost 25% of all flood insurance claims came from areas no one considered high risk. A single inch of water, which you may not think of as a flood, can cause costly damage to your home or business. It is important to remember that there is a 30 day waiting period in order to receive flood coverage.

Our agency philosophy is to meet each household once a year to ensure coverage stays current with the needs of each client and reviews your exposure to uncovered risks. We want to make sure our clients understand each policy and review limits and discover potential gaps before a loss occurs.

Will the damage to my house be covered by insurance?

In order for any insurance loss to be covered the occurrence must have been a sudden and accidental event. In general the damage caused as a result of a water pipe bursting would be covered on a homeowner’s claim (sudden and accidental), but dry rot caused by a slow leak in a pipe would not be covered (maintenance issue). If the incident is sudden and accidental, even unintentional damage caused by the owner, such as cutting down a tree onto your garage, or dropping a hammer and cracking a bathtub may be covered.

Most homeowner’s policies provide broad coverage, but many perils are also often excluded including; water damage from flood, earthquake, settling, cracking, bulging, vapor or chemical contamination, corrosion, mold, rot, and insect damage. Many people mistakenly believe that any damage to their home will be covered by insurance. Protect the investment in your home by understanding your insurance policy and preventing avoidable losses.
Each time you report a claim to your insurance companies’ call center the information is recorded. Most insurance companies share loss information, so multiple claims in a few years could drive up your future premiums with any company. If you are unsure whether or not if a loss will be covered talk to your agent. Your agent is a professional who knows the ins and outs of your policy and has a vested interest in helping you make the best long-term decision.

GPS Mapping Device stolen from a vehicle

I have a mobile GPS mapping device, is it covered if it is stolen from my car?

Factory installed GPS mapping devices are usually covered by your auto policy, however most mobile devices are excluded. Most auto insurance policies cover electronics only when they are permanently attached to the vehicle, so a mobile device would be excluded from your auto policy. Some policies contain even tighter excludsions and only cover electronics that are factory installed and permanentely attached to the vehicle. Auto policies usually exclude any personal property that is kept in the vehicle, the exception is a small benefit when the entire vehicle is stolen, but even then electronics are still excluded.

Homeowner’s, condo, and renters policies do protect stolen property, however most policies have an exemption for any electronic device (i.e. laptop, phone, iPod, or GPS device) that is stolen from a vehicle. The coverage and exclusions vary in each insurance policy, but in most cases mobile electronic devices stolen from a vehicle are excluded on both the auto and homeowner's policy, so there is no covers. Play it safe and protect your personal property; bring your personal electronics into your residence each night where they are covered for theft. Contact your insurance agent for the coverage specifics on your policy.

Household Inventory Record

The importance of creating a Household Inventory Record

Moving is never a fun process, however it is a great time to conduct a personal inventory, creating a record of all personal belongings, so that if you ever experience a major insurance loss you will know what you owned. During a move you have access to all of your belongings, even the items stuffed back in a deep dark corner of the attic, so it is a great time to document your stuff.

Remembering all of you possessions can be very difficult unless you have a photographic memory. I am sure you can provide a the make, model, and size of your TV, a good general description of your living room couch, and bedroom furniture, but can you provide a complete inventory for the second drawer, to the left of the stove in your kitchen and a list of all of your Christmas decorations? If you lose everything, or even a big portion of your personal belongings a person property inventory will make your life much easier. A personal inventory gives a claims adjuster a very clear picture of what you had, makes it easy to determine a value, and ultimately will help you get your claim settled quickly & accurately.

Taking pictures of your entire household belongings is the most efficient way to create a record your belongings. Take pictures from several angles in each room and don’t forget to open closet and cabinet doors as well. We have provided an example of what a good personal inventory looks like. Once you have taken the pictures make sure to keep at least one copy of the images at another location such as with your insurance agent, relative, or in your safe deposit box.

Whether you are moving or not, having an up to date personal inventory just makes good sense. It may be an invaluable use of your time if you ever suffer a major loss.

2 Minute Video on creating a Home Inventory

More info on creating a Home Inventory from the Insurance Information Institute

Cascadia Agency
Paul, Craig, Connie, Katie, and Laurie

Condominium Insurance

Condominium Insurance

As a condominium owner, the first thing you need to know about insurance is that you will need two policies to be fully protected. The master policy protects the common area, general structure, and provides liability protection for the association. The master, or association policy is typically paid through association dues. Your lending institution will most likely verify that the master policy coverage is in force before securing your loan, however only rarely will they require proof of a personal condo policy.

The biggest insurance mistake most condo owners make is not realizing that they need a personal policy in addition to the master policy. While the master policy protects the overall structure it does not cover losses to personal belongings, improvements made to your unit, such as a remodel, or for damages from an accidental loss, which you become legally obligated to pay (liability protection). A common misconception is that the master association coverage extends to protect improvements throughout the condo. In many cases the association insurance stops at the exterior walls – making you responsible for all finishes, including appliances, fixtures, and interior walls. A professional insurance agency can help you review your association coverage, determine what the association policy covers, and place coverage for your personal protection needs.

A few key elements your personal condo coverage should provide:

• Personal Property Protection – Insurance for items such as furniture, clothing, and other personal belongings.
• Building Property Protection – Protects improvements that have been made to the unit such as upgraded kitchen cabinets, appliances, and fixtures.
• Liability Protection – Protects for damages you are legally obligated to pay, such as bodily injury and property damage lawsuits.
• Additional Living Expenses – Pays for reasonable increases in living expenses if you condo becomes uninhabitable. This is important coverage as eating out and hotel costs can quickly add up to thousands of dollars.
  
  More condo insurance information
  
  More condo insurance information from the Insurance Information Institute