02/12/2026
We're coming up on the season that a FLOOD could occur. Just wanted to give you a heads up that UNLESS you are closing on a new mortgage & the bank requires flood insurance; there is a 30 day waiting period for a policy to begin! UGH! That sounds silly but that is to prevent people from taking out a policy just before the threat of flooding begins. As our agency was being flooded in 2011 & while we were evacuating files, computers etc. because water was just entering our office, a woman came in & asked to take out a flood policy! Sorry, but nope. BTW She wasn't interested in waiting the 30 days either.
You can purchase a Flood policy either directly through FEMA or an agent who would write it through an insurance company. Did you know that ALL policies are actually written through or are affiliated with FEMA & that all have the the same exact rates? Really! So there is no need to shop your flood insurance because you will end up with the same policy with the same rate no matter which company or FEMA you are with. We've found first hand that claims are handled much quicker if written through a company rather than directly through FEMA. Back in 2011 we also saw how much quicker ours & our customer's (& other's) claims were settled compared to those who went directly through FEMA.
Did you also know that ground water into your basement for ANY reason is excluded from all homeowners policies WITH THE EXCEPTION OF an endorsement for "back up of sewers and drains" with an average highest coverage amount of $5,000?!?! Most carriers offer that endorsement & of course it'll cost a few bucks extra. However a pipe or drain needs to actually back up, such as your sewer line, or basement drain. So... that does not include the water pouring into a crack from the wall into your basement which could fall into the flood category especially if other houses have the same issue close by.
A HOUSE ON TOP OF MOUNTAINS, yep, that can be flooded too!! I've actually seen it happen!! A house on top of a mountain in my development had a ditch overflow during heavy, flooding rains & the water from slightly above it overflowed their ditch, ran through their yard and down into the window well & flooded their newly refinished basement! I would not have believed it had I have not seen it with my own eyes! So please don't believe that just because you don't live next to the river or a creek that you can not be flooded! In a case like that it could be considered a flood as long as other houses in a closer proximity were flooded and/or it was in an area considered a disaster zone.
Please know that we do not make the verbiage of a policy, nor it's exclusions & that we are only here to answer questions that you may have & share some knowledge. Enough rambling... just want you all to be aware of such laws & exclusions on all homeowners policies as we are going to begin the flood season shortly & wanted to give you, hopefully, enough time to consider taking out your own flood policy before a flooding event occurs.
At Bluhm Insurance Agency, we give you the best customer service because we know how important you are. Get a free auto or homeowners quote with us today and see how much you can save.
