Are you prepared?

Flood Tips

If you are not ordered to evacuate and you decide to stay:

• stay indoors away from windows or glass doors.
• the safest place to go is underground, in a basement, and under something sturdy, like a work bench.
• if you do not have access to an underground shelter (as many coastal residents do not), head toward the center of your house to the bathroom or hallway, where there's extra reinforcement and the maximum number of walls between you and the outside.
• keep your radio tuned to weather information until all-clear has sounded.

• Go directly to a shelter, as directed by local authorities.
• Lock doors and windows before you go.

After the storm

Wait until you get an announcement from officials to leave your shelter.

Be extra careful when you venture out because:

• driving may be especially hazardous due to debris on streets, flooding, emergency vehicles in operation and traffic signals and street lights out of service.
• be cautious of rivers or streams or other places where flooding is likely.

When You Return Home

• check electrical, water and gas lines (or have a professional do it) as soon as possible.
• make emergency repairs to prevent further damage.
• check to see that refrigerated food hasn't spoiled if there has been a power outage.
• use emergency water rations or boil water out of the tap before drinking until you're notified water supply is safe.
• report damage to your First Southeast Insurance agent.

Hurricanes can be very destructive.  Call a First Southeast office today and make sure your insurance coverage is up to date. 

Floods . . .
Do you have a plan?
Before a flood  |  During a flood  |  After a flood

What is a "Flood"  --A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:

• Overflow of inland or tidal waters.
• The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
• Mudslides (i.e., mudflows) which are proximately caused by flood, as defined above, and are akin to a river of liquid and flowing mud on the surface of normally dry land areas, as when earth is carried by a current of water and deposited along the path of the current.
• The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding the cyclical levels which result in flood, as defined above.

Did you know. . .

• Floods and flash floods are the most common natural disaster, occurring in all 50 states?
• Floods cause devastating damage to buildings and personal belongings?
• One in three flood insurance claims are generated outside areas considered "flood-prone"?
• Homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage?

Before a flood:

• Make a written, photographic and/or videotaped inventory of household possessions and property, and store it in a safe place (e.g. the home of a relative or safe deposit box) with insurance policies, documents and other valuables.
• Assemble a disaster supplies kit that includes a first aid kit, canned food, non-electric can opener; bottled water (emergency managers recommend 3 gallons per person), rubber boots, rubber gloves, battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
• Identify evacuation locations.
• Discuss with your agent your need for flood insurance. (Reminder:  There is a thirty day waiting period for coverage to take effect)

During a flood:

• When a warning is issued, listen to local radio and TV stations for information.
• When a watch is issued, move furniture and valuables to higher floors of your home.
• Abandon your car if stalled in rapidly rising waters and climb to higher ground. Do not drive into any large puddles or into water that seems to be moving rapidly.

After a flood:

• Call your insurance agent as soon as possible if you need to file a claim.
• Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Keep all receipts.
• Delay permanent repairs until your insurer approves reimbursement.
• Get any necessary construction permits from your community.
• Prepare an inventory of all damaged or destroyed personal property. Take photos of damaged areas.
• Save remnants of damaged or destroyed property for your insurance company adjuster.
• Meet with your adjuster before signing anything with contractors, lawyers or public adjuster.
• Let your car dry out before trying to start it.

Protecting yourself is easy!

Flood insurance picks up where your homeowners insurance leaves off. It is not expensive, especially when compared with the monthly payments for disaster loans, and it is easy to get -- just call your insurance agent.

What to ask your First Southeast insurance agent:

• Do I have flood insurance?
• How much flood insurance should I purchase?
• How much contents coverage should I purchase?
• Should I consider a three-year policy to reduce my premiums?
• Do I qualify for a preferred risk policy?
• Can I finance my premiums?

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