Flood Insurance for Darien, Ridgefield, and Beyond

Homeowners in Darien and Ridgefield are very familiar with the risk of coastal flooding. Cross Private Client Insurance has options for both homeowners and renters to purchase flood insurance. Flood insurance can help to cover the costs to repair or replace damaged items after a flood.

Why Purchase Flood Insurance in Connecticut?

Floods occur more than you think. For those living in high-risk flood areas, the need for flood insurance is clear. Although many of us think we are safe from the potential flood because we live far from a body of water, there are other ways floods can reach us. For example, flash floods, which are caused by heavy rain and thunderstorms, can occur anywhere. Other weather scenarios that can cause flooding include winter storms, seasonal melting, poor drainage systems, and failed dams or levees. To put it into perspective, floods are the most common natural hazard according to the World Health Organization.

Flooding can cause both financial and emotional devastation. Flood insurance can help with the costs associated with repairing or replacing your damaged property.

How Much Does Flood Insurance Cost?

Floods are the one of the most expensive natural disasters, costing homeowners millions annually. There are several factors that are considered when your insurance premium is being determined. Some of the factors are:

• What is your home’s flood risk? Is it low, moderate, or high?
• What is the type of coverage being purchased for your home?
• How much is the deductible for your selected coverage?
• Where is your home located?
• How old is your home?
• Does your home have unique characteristics?
• Where are the items in your home located?

Types of Flood Insurance Coverage

In the event of a flood, there are two main coverage types used to help protect you and your home.

Building coverage can help to protect many facets of your property. Depending on your policy selections, building coverage can extend beyond the structure of your home, helping protect your electrical and plumbing systems, sometimes even your appliances. Your other option is contents coverage. Contents coverage helps to protect your furniture, clothing, appliances, and electronic equipment. Objects like curtains and select appliances can also be found under contents.

What is Excluded from a Flood Insurance Policy?

For a full list of what is excluded from a flood insurance policy visit the National Flood Insurance Program website. Some of the property a flood insurance policy will not cover are:

• Your yard and any plants or walkways
• Wells or septic systems
• Decks, patios, fences, seawalls, hot tubs, or swimming pools
• Currency, precious metals, and valuable papers such as stock certificates

While a flood policy will provide coverage for structural components of your basement, and certain appliances, it may not provide coverage for furniture, electronics, or computer equipment that may be found in some finished basements.

Preventive Flooding Steps

Water around homes can easily navigate its way into cracks or gaps in your foundation, causing floods that affect the home’s interior. There are other various surfaces that are susceptible to flooding, which makes taking preventive measures before any rain, snow, or leaks can cause damage important.

• Clean any gutters installed on your home. Sometimes a clogged downspout can be blocked by debris causing backup and an excess of water. Also ensure your downspouts are draining away from the foundation of your home.
• Check street drains near your house. Debris and snow can accumulate and prevent proper drainage.
• If you have a sump pump, test to make sure the water is being properly pumped and flowing away from your home.
• Shovel snow away from your home to help prevent any leaks near your foundation, doors, windows, and roof.

Flood Insurance for Your Darien, Ridgefield, and Connecticut Home

Speak with your local Cross Private Client Insurance agent to see what options you have for flood insurance coverage for your home. For decades, we’ve helped successful individuals navigate the high-net-worth insurance market. Our team has experience addressing the broad range of exposures of large families and serving their widely varied structures and dynamics. We work with top insurance carriers to provide insurance options for our clients. Reach out to our team today if you have insurance questions. To request a quote for flood insurance, you can submit our form here. If you prefer to reach out to one of our offices directly, you can see a list of our offices and contact numbers here.

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.