[Winona Online Democracy]
A couple of things:
In difficult circumstances like this, rumors and half correct information
create a different kind of flood. I don't doubt what Linda was told, but I
wonder who told her that a house had to be knocked off the foundation for
flood insurance to kick in. It is important that people read their policies
(that is fi they can find their policies--but contact the agent. A copy
will be on file in the insurance office)
That said, some years ago when a storm dropped a 6 ton tree on my house, I
found neither my local insurance agent nor the insurance adjuster to be at
all helpful filing my claim. Instead, they seemed to be looking to avoid
paying for as much of the claim as possible. Fortunately for me, the
wonderful man who removed the tree from my home was knowledgeable about how
to file an appropriate claim so that I paid only the deductible and not the
cost of having a tree removed from my dwelling. My advice: read your
policy and question EVERYTHING. Ask your contractors for help filing
claims. If you need to, consult an attorney.
Here's what the FEMA site says about flood insurance:
QUOTE:
" Unlike a standard homeowners policy, flood insurance covers losses to your
property caused by flooding.
Some of the things a standard flood policy will cover include:
* structural damage
* furnace, water heater and air conditioner
* flood debris clean up
* floor surfaces such as carpeting and tile
You can also buy a flood insurance policy to cover the contents of your
home, such as furniture, collectibles, clothing, jewelry and artwork.
Policies are available in three forms: Dwelling (most homes), General
Property (apartments and businesses), and Residential Condominium Building
Association (condominiums).
It's important to know that if you have a federally backed mortgage on a
home located in a high-risk area, federal law requires you to purchase flood
insurance. Also, if you've received a federal grant for previous flood
losses, you must have a flood insurance policy to qualify for future aid. "
END QUOTE
QUOTE:
What are the benfits of FLood Insurance?
Buying flood insurance is the best thing you can do to protect your home,
business, family, and financial security from a flood.
When you are a flood insurance policyholder:
* Flood insurance compensates you for all covered losses.
* Coverage is relatively inexpensive.
* You can depend on being reimbursed for flood damages, even if the
President does not declare a Federal disaster.
* You do not have to repay a loan, as you might have to with many
Federal disaster relief packages. Your covered losses are paid in full.
* You can count on your claim being paid in the event of a flood loss
because NFIP flood insurance is backed by the Federal government.
* Your agent can help you handle your claim quickly, so that you will
not have to put your life on hold if a flood damages your property. You can
even request a partial payment immediately after the flood, which can help
you recover even faster.
END QUOTE
Please read carefully: the policy will only reimburse for covered losses.
QUOTE:
What to Ask Your Flood Insurance Agent
Keep these questions in mind as you visit with your flood insurance agent.
Together, you will determine the flood insurance coverage that's right for
you.
* Does my community participate in the NFIP?
* Can you confirm which flood zone I live in?
* Does my community participate in the NFIP Community Rating System
(CRS)?
* If so, what is my community's CRS rating?
* Do I qualify for a CRS rating discount?
* What exactly will be covered in case of flood damage?
* How will my premium costs be affected by choosing coverage for
building only, contents only or building and contents?
* How will my premium costs be affected if I choose a higher deductible?
* What is the policy fee?
* Are there additional expenses or fees I should be aware of?
END QUOTE
I don't blame people for being scared or angry or worried. I would like to
say that I am very proud to live in a community where so many people are
pulling together to help one another. It is impossible that people's lives
will go back to the way they were 10 days ago.
I understand that people are skeptical about FEMA, but there is a wealth of
information available at this site:
http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/index.jsp
Terri Hyle
_________________________________________________________________
Now you can see troubleĀ
before he arrives
http://newlivehotmail.com/?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_viral_protection_0507
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