Homeowners Advised of Flood Insurance Resources

Terry Township Rt 187 North

Photos by Rick Hiduk

As Pennsylvania is one of the most flood-prone states in the nation, Rep. Tina Pickett (Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) is urging homeowners to consider flood insurance and take preventative measures now to protect their properties.

We need only be reminded of Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Irene and how many local waterways overflowed their banks and damaged property to know about the importance of flood prevention,” Pickett said. “With this year’s late winter snowfall and coming seasonal rains, we may again be headed for a wet spring. That’s why homeowners should take a look at their properties and determine if flood insurance or additional prevention measures would help.”

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Pennsylvania residents in 66 of the state’s 67 counties filed nearly 18,000 flood insurance claims in the nine years from 2006 through 2014, and received more than $551 million in payments.

Pickett, chairman of the House Insurance Committee, noted that standard homeowner insurance policies do not cover flood damage, and there is a 30-day waiting period for new policies to take effect.

To obtain flood insurance or for more information, log onto www.floodsmart.gov, the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program, which is a federally funded resource for flood victims.

Property owners can also take the following precautions to help prevent flood damage:

  • Install a sump pump and make sure it is working; install a battery-operated backup in case of a power failure.
  • Install “check valves” to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
  • Seal walls in the basement with waterproofing compounds.
  • Clear debris from gutters and downspouts.
  • Anchor any fuel tanks.
  • Elevate a furnace, water heater, washer, dryer, and electric panel, if living in a high flood-risk area.

More information on what property owners can do to lessen potential flood damage, and possibly lower premiums, is available at https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program.

Also, for insurance purposes, Pickett advises that homeowners keep a written and visual record of all major household items and valuables, even those stored in basements, attics or garages. Those files should include serial numbers and store receipts for major appliances and electronics. For more information, visit www.knowyourstuff.org.

Asylum Twp Home 3A

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