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Help Clients Prepare for Flooding

When flooding is predicted, reach out to your clients and share with them crucial loss avoidance actions. Let them know you’re there to support them when disaster strikes.

Sandbags piled up in front door of house

Taking flood loss avoidance measures

When flooding is imminent, encourage your clients to take steps to minimize damage.

  • NFIP policies can reimburse up to $1,000 for expenses used in protecting insured property. This can be used to purchase sandbags, fill sand or soil, lumber, boxes and packing materials, water pumps, plastic sheeting and also covers labor costs.

  • Any personal property moved must be stored in a fully enclosed building or protected from the elements.

  • Clients can also be reimbursed for transportation, shipping and labor, including family members at the federal minimum wage.

Documenting their property

To prepare for a possible flood, ensure your clients keep their important documents in a safe and waterproof place.

  • Encourage clients to keep key flood insurance policy details on hand, including your contact info, insurance company name, policy number, declarations page and mortgage company.

  • Your clients should keep an updated list of their household items and valuables, including photos and videos of appliances and their serial numbers, fixtures and the property’s interior and exterior.

  • If they have contents coverage, your clients should also document their belongings and keep samples of materials like carpet, wallpaper and upholstery.

  • Keep a digital backup. Store scanned copies of key documents such as insurance policies, ID cards and property records in a secure cloud location or email them to yourself. This ensures you can access them even if the originals are lost or damaged.

Practicing flood safety and preparedness

Encourage your clients to take key safety and preparedness steps before a flood occurs.

  • Get financially ready. Ensure your clients keep key financial, insurance and personal records in a safe place.

  • Plan ahead with family. Encourage your clients to create a communication plan, prepare their disaster “go-bag” and are familiar with local evacuation routes. 

  • Protect their home and valuables. Share with your clients the importance of reinforcing their home, clearing debris, moving valuables to safer locations and staying informed with local emergency alerts.

The Impact of Flooding on U.S. Counties

Do you know how many counties have been affected by flooding across the United States? This shows the need for preparedness and protection.

99%

99% of counties in the United States have experienced a flood event in the past 20 years.  

49%

In the past five years alone, nearly half of counties (49%) in the United States experienced a flood event.

67%

In the past decade, more than two-thirds of counties (67%) in the United States experienced a flood event.

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