Are your home and belongings covered against flood damages?

Carson City, NV May 07, 2019

The heavy snowpack on the northern Nevada mountains, mixed with warmer days and recent rain in Las Vegas that caused flash flooding in some areas, are all reminders of flood dangers.

Consumers are encouraged every year to act before disaster strikes and review their homeowner or renter’s insurance policies to determine if they need to purchase flood insurance coverage as homeowner or renters polices do not include coverage from flood damage.

“Flood insurance is one of those products that cannot be purchased while a disaster is occurring or about to occur,” said Insurance Commissioner Barbara Richardson. “A big caveat for flood insurance is that there is a 30-day waiting period before the policy becomes effective, that is why it is important to be proactive now.”

Flood insurance is more available to consumers than ever before because in Nevada, consumers now can purchase coverage for damage from flood via private flood insurance or via a flood insurance policy issued by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) administered by FEMA: www.Floodsmart.gov. For questions about how to buy such a policy, consumers can reach out to their insurance agent who may guide them through the process.

For more information consumers are encouraged to read the Division’s flood, home and earthquake insurance guides by visiting the Division of Insurance website at www.doi.nv.gov.  Page 10 of the Flood Guide provides a general comparison of what is covered and what is not covered for water-related damage in a standard home insurance policy and a flood insurance policy. For residents in Clark County, the Regional Flood Control District is an additional source of information as it educates the public about the dangers of flash flooding. Please visit http://www.ccrfcd.org/ for more information.

About the Nevada Division of Insurance  

The State of Nevada Division of Insurance, a Division of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, protects the rights of Nevada consumers and regulates Nevada’s $14 billion insurance industry. The Division of Insurance has offices in Carson City and Las Vegas. In 2018, the Division investigated more than 3,100 consumer complaints and recovered over $8.4 million on behalf of consumers. For more information about the Division of Insurance, visit DOI.NV.GOV.

Contact

Yeraldin Deavila
DOI PIO
775-687-0772