Carson City, NV February 09, 2023
Floods can happen anytime, anywhere, sometimes
with little to no warning; and Nevada is certainly no exception.
Last summer unexpected heavy rains gushed
onto Las Vegas casino floors and flooded homes; and just this past month our
neighbors in northern California were hit with unprecedented back-to-back
floods lasting several days, resulting in over 20 fatalities, billions of
dollars in damage, and thousands of residents being displaced from their homes.
These flood victims are now faced with the daunting challenge of how to recover
and rebuild.
Changing weather patterns and an increase
in severe weather events such as these, simply can no longer be ignored and
should be taken into consideration when evaluating your property’s flood risk
and considering your flood insurance options.
Flood
damage is not covered under standard homeowners’, commercial, and
renters’ insurance policies. Even when a federal disaster is declared, aid is
usually provided in the form of low-interest loans which must be paid back and
are likely to only cover a portion of your costs.
Flood insurance can protect your home or
business and its contents; providing the added financial assistance you may
need to help you recover faster. Keep in mind, there is typically a 30-day
waiting period for policies to take effect.
Policies are available through the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) or private insurance companies. Contact your insurance
agent or visit FloodSmart.gov/flood-insurance-provider to find
a provider.
FLOOD FACTS:
- Flooding is the nation’s #1 most frequent and
costly natural disaster.
- 98% of counties in the U.S. have experienced a flood.
- Just 1 inch of water can cause up to $25,000 worth
of damages.
- 40% of NFIP
flood insurance claims occur outside of designated
high-risk flood zones.
For
more information on flood insurance visit the Division’s website and
check out the Nevada Consumer’s Guide to Flood Insurance. Additional resources are listed below.
Additional Resources:
Nevada Division of Insurance
https://doi.nv.gov/
Toll Free: 1-888-872-3234
National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
https://www.floodsmart.gov/
Toll Free: 1-877-336-2627
FEMA
Flood Information
https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance
Toll Free: 1-800-427-4661
FEMA Disaster Assistance
Toll Free: 1-800-621-3362
Email: floodsmart@fema.dhs.gov
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 $22 billion insurance
industry. The Division of Insurance has offices in Carson City and Las Vegas.
For Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022, the Division investigated 5,062 consumer
complaints, answered approximately 25,000 inquiries, and recovered over $8
million on behalf of consumers. For more information about the Division of
Insurance, visit DOI.NV.GOV;
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