Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 6, 2006 Flood insurance doesn’t always cover damages By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune With severe floods happening every 10 or 20 years, many people who own businesses or property near water are getting the message that flood insurance is a lot cheaper than going without and hoping for the best. However, many who have flood insurance, like Sue Woods on Evans Creek in Rogue River, feel it hasn’t done well at covering what they’ve lost. "We’re insured, but after the adjuster came, we still lost big time," said Woods. "We lost 6 feet of backyard and old-growth trees. Insurance didn’t cover that. In the basement, we lost about $12,000 and they agreed to pay $9,000 after they depreciated appliances and other contents." What "really ticked me off," added Woods, was the cadging on stair carpeting and sheetrock in the basement, which was a livable space, with bedroom, workout room and laundry. "The flood came up 3 feet in the basement and that’s what they paid for — just the first 3 feet of sheetrock and the first 3 feet of carpeting up the stairs," said Woods, who was insured through Farmer’s. "I was in tears. I was heartsick. Advertisement "That’s not a lot of money to put back what we had. It’s better than nothing, though." Flooding got in the garage of John Ferry’s Evans Creek home but left the living space alone — an event that’s inspired him to get flood insurance, he said. "We lost stuff in the garage. It was just water and mud, but we saw that it was putting force on the house. We want to protect the structure and we’re afraid that sooner or later, something might happen, like a (floating) log hitting it," said Ferry, who will pay $400 a year for coverage. Marcia Hensley’s Whistling Pines RV Park used to be insured, a requirement of her FEMA loan from the 1997 New Year’s Day flood — but she paid the loan off and canceled the insurance and is glad she did, even though this year’s torrents scoured off half her park, with all the electrical, plumbing and gravel roads going with it. "If we’d had insurance, they wouldn’t have paid for anything," Hensley said. "It only covered the cabins at the top of the land and they didn’t get flooded, Everything below them was a wreck." Premiums were in the $1,200 to $1,500 range per year, "a high amount that did absolutely no good. It was a crock," she said. Though waters didn’t get closer than 15 feet from his home on Evans Creek, former insurance agent Ed Chance, says he knows the value of flood coverage, for which he pays Hartford $300 a year. "If it had rained a couple more days, we’d have been under water," said Chance. "I want to cover my bases. Most people I talk to don’t carry it because they think they’re above the flood plain. But a lot can happen, like plugging culverts that cause waters to move outside the flood plain." Stressing the seriousness of insurance coverage, Gov. Ted Kulongoski set up a flood information Web site ( www.governor.oregon.gov ) and reminded Oregonians that 25 to 30 percent of damages occur to property considered outside flood zones. The insurance must be in effect 30 days before the damage, he added, so if the water is rising, it’s too late to get coverage. Regular homeowner insurance does not cover floods. Special flood insurance may be purchased through your agent, who can help with claims, but the insurance is sold by the National Flood Insurance Program, which is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Medford Allstate agent Scott Sherbourne. Premiums are based on whether you’re situated in a flood plain (very expensive), or B or C zones, which are farther from streams and rivers. Zone C is the "preferred flood program," with lowest rates, he added. "A lot of people assume their home policy covers flood — and most people are focused on (premium) price, so, if they do insure, many only cover for the loan amount, not the replacement value," said Sherbourne. "Unfortunately, most people find out what their coverage is after the flood. We encourage them to review it before." Most people have the misconception that, after a flood and disaster declaration, the federal government will come in and give out free money to fix everything. In reality, said Sherbourne, the government must be paid back with interest. FEMA’s flood insurance Web site (floodsmart.gov) explains that the standard policy covers structural damage, heating-air conditioning appliances, water heater, floors and debris cleanup — with additional coverage available for contents. The coverage limit for homes is $250,000 and contents is $100,000. For business, it’s $500,000 for structures and the same for contents. "Everyone is at risk," begins the NFIP Web site, which explains how floods can happen just about anywhere. An interactive feature will show your flood risk if you enter your address. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement