Most homeowners also don’t realize the amount of damage that only three inches of water can cause; and they reveal which items they’d be most worried about losing in a flood.
Erie Insurance asked U.S. homeowners to name the most common and expensive natural disaster in the U.S. and only 14% got the right answer: flooding.* A plurality (37%) thought it was hurricanes. The survey on a wide range of flood-related topics was designed to raise awareness of flood damage risk and what homeowners can do to mitigate it. Erie Insurance (ERIE) commissioned the survey to coincide with the recent launch of its new Extended Water insurance coverage. Realizing that typical homeowners policies don’t cover flood damage, ERIE expanded its coverage to help fill in the gaps.
The survey also questioned homeowners about how high floodwater would have to get to make it likely they’d need to replace drywall and baseboards. Many think it would have to be a foot or more, but actually it’s a mere three inches,* which only 7% guessed correctly.
When asked what they would be most concerned about losing to flood damage, a large majority of survey participants (77%) said important documents like personal papers, titles and IDs. Next were family photos, with a third of homeowners (34%) concerned about losing them – women were much more worried about this than men (44% vs. 24%, respectively). That was followed by expensive electronic equipment (25%), antiques (8%) and wedding albums (7%).
“Our survey shows that many homeowners underestimate not only the risk of flooding but also the significant amount of damage that a relatively small amount of water can cause,” said Michelle Tennant, vice president of Product Management, Erie Insurance. “There are several things homeowners can do to prevent water damage, like redirecting water away from their homes, sealing roofs and making sure plumbing systems are well maintained. But they should also talk with their insurance agent to make sure they’re covered in the unfortunate event that damage does occur.”
ERIE’s Extended Water covers damage not only caused by natural disasters but also by sewer and drain backups.** It covers the home and its foundation; electrical and plumbing systems; HVAC equipment; appliances; and personal possessions such as furniture and clothing. It also provides up to $10,000 in flood avoidance reimbursement for certain equipment or material to help protect the home before floodingoccurs.
Find out more at erieinsurance.com/extended-water.
*Source: FEMA
**Extended Water is not yet available in New York and North Carolina; soon to be available in D.C.