When it comes to flood insurance, many homeowners often operate under misconceptions that can lead to inadequate protection for their properties. Flooding can be devastating, and understanding the facts about flood insurance is crucial to safeguarding your home and finances. Let’s take a closer look at some common myths surrounding flood insurance and the truths that counter them.

Myth 1: My Homeowner’s Insurance Covers Flood Damage

One of the most prevalent myths is the belief that standard homeowner’s insurance policies cover flood damage. In reality, most homeowner’s policies exclude flood damage. If you live in a flood-prone area or are at risk of rising waters from heavy rainfall, you’ll need a separate flood insurance policy to ensure coverage. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides options for those who need it.

Myth 2: Flood Insurance is Only for High-Risk Areas

Many people think that if they don't live in a designated flood zone, they don’t need flood insurance. While it's true that high-risk areas are more prone to flooding, flooding can occur anywhere—regardless of your location. Studies show that around 20% of flood insurance claims originate from homes outside of high-risk flood zones. It’s a wise investment for peace of mind, no matter where you live.

Myth 3: Flood Insurance is Too Expensive

Another myth is that flood insurance is prohibitively expensive. While costs can vary significantly based on location, the type of coverage, and the property itself, many people find it to be a manageable expense compared to the potential losses from flood damage. Additionally, the NFIP offers affordable premiums, and there may be possible discounts for policyholders who take steps to mitigate flood risks.

Myth 4: You Can Wait Until a Flood is Imminent to Get Coverage

Some homeowners believe they can wait until they see a storm approaching to purchase flood insurance. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Flood insurance policies typically have a 30-day waiting period before they take effect. Waiting until the last minute can leave you vulnerable and without coverage when you need it most.

Myth 5: Flood Insurance Only Covers Structural Damage

Many believe that flood insurance only covers damage to the structure of the home. In reality, a standard flood insurance policy covers both the structure and personal belongings, including appliances, furniture, and electronics up to certain limits. However, it's essential to understand what is and isn’t covered, as some valuable items or specific types of damage may require additional coverage or riders.

Myth 6: You Don't Need Flood Insurance if You’ve Never Flooded

Just because your home hasn’t flooded in the past doesn't mean it will never flood in the future. Climate change, urban development, and changes in weather patterns can increase the risk of flooding even in traditionally safe areas. Relying on past experiences can be a risky approach to your home’s protection.

Understanding the realities of flood insurance can keep homeowners informed and prepared. It's essential to look past the myths and make informed decisions to protect your property. Take the time to assess your risk, review your insurance options, and call us today to discuss a flood policy. Flooding can occur without warning and making sure you have the right coverage in place can be the difference between recovery and financial distress. 

Stay safe, informed, and consider how flood insurance could be a vital part of your financial safety net!

​June 1 marks the first day of hurricane season. Everyone from Texas to New York should stay weather aware during hurricane season.

Take time now to prepare your home and household for any severe weather that comes your way. Remember, hurricanes are not just a coastal problem; they can also affect inland areas with rain, water, and high winds. Plan ahead and help prepare for a hurricane with this handy checklist.

✓ Create an emergency preparedness kit.

Depending on the severity of the storm, you may not have access to food, water or electricity for days. Have an emergency kit for your home ready to go that includes non-perishable foods, personal and financial records, a first aid kit, battery-powered electronics and more. Check out our emergency preparedness infographic for a full list of items to include in your kit.

✓ Make a plan.
Have a meeting with all the members of your household to discuss your emergency plan. Designate one room to best protect you from high winds —a small, windowless room that is safe from flooding. If your home is in an area that is likely to flood, or if you live in a mobile home, plan to evacuate and find accommodations in a designated community shelter or at a friend or family's home.

Sign up for FEMA's text messaging alert system and your community's emergency alerts to be aware of severe weather warnings in place and the location of nearby shelters if advised to evacuate. Know your evacuation route and practice it often.

✓ Prepare your home.

Can your home withstand hurricane-force winds? There are plenty of ways to help protect the exterior of your home during severe weather. Before a hurricane makes landfall, remove any outdoor patio furniture, clear debris from your drains and gutters, reinforce your garage doors and consider installing hurricane shutters.

✓ Create a personal property inventory.

Having a record of all your valuable belongings will help you out significantly if you have to file an insurance claim. Find out what you should include in your inventory and the best way to record it here.

✓ Check your homeowners insurance policy.

Most homeowners insurance policies will cover the damages sustained in a hurricane, but not the floods that can follow. Review your insurance policy and speak with your independent insurance agent about what limitations your policy may have in place and make adjustments accordingly. Contact your agent early as some coverage may have a waiting period, also known as a qualifying period, before it can start.

Do you have flood insurance? Find a Foremost insurance agent near you that can help as you choose the right policy to protect your home.
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As one of the most common crimes, burglary is nothing to be taken lightly. And unlike common belief, most of these burglaries happen in the middle of the day. According to the National Council for Home Safety and Security, break-ins are more likely to happen between 6AM and 6PM, right in the middle of the day!
With the fall season upon us and the holidays approaching, it is important to make your home safe from break-ins. While there are many safety recommendations out there, HowStuffWorks has covered the seven most effective.

Don't showboat.
If you've just purchased a pricey new computer or television, breakdown the box and place it in the garbage bin instead of leaving it on the curb for everyone to see. Also, take a walk around your house to see how visible expensive items are with the curtains open. You may want to move some of them out of view to avoid enticing thieves.

Pretend to be home.
A break-in typically happens when no one is home, especially during the day while many people are at work. For that reason, create an illusion that someone is still there. You can leave a light on, along with music or your television.

Secure sliding doors and windows.
You can easily break into some older sliding doors by simply popping them off of their frame, even when locked. It's harder to do that with newer ones, but you should still take extra precaution to secure them since they can be an inviting entry for burglars. Simply take a strong dowel, steel bar or two-by-four and slide it into the back groove.
Although you should always lock your windows before leaving the house, you can install a simple pin or nail into to the frame to stop it from raising more than a few inches. This will add an additional layer of security in case someone pops off the screen and you have left the window unlocked. Also remember to check window air conditioning units. If you can jimmy the window up from the outside, add a stopper to that frame.

Don't leave a spare key out.
It may seem like a good idea to leave a spare key hidden under a flower pot or doormat in case you get locked out of your house. But that's an open invitation for a burglar to walk inside without any difficulty. Instead, give a spare to a neighbor you know well or friend who lives nearby for safekeeping.
Remember to never put any identifying information on your house keys. If you lose them, and someone else finds them, it would be fairly easy to trace them back to your home and break-in.

Secure your yard.
Tall shrubs and overgrown trees are welcome hiding places for criminals to wait until the coast is clear to get into your house. That doesn't mean you need to cut down every plant in your yard. Just keep things manicured.

Prepare before vacation.
Alert neighbors you trust about your trip and ask that they keep an eye on your property during that time. More importantly, when you leave town, don't leave signs of an empty house. First, if you have a home phone, don't change your message to alert callers that you have left town. Also avoid having piled up mail, overgrown lawns and newspapers strewn about your yard that send surefire signals you're miles away. Last, but certainly not least, don't announce vacation on social media.

Lock it up.
More than 40% of break-ins happen without the use of force, which means a lot of people are leaving their houses without locking the doors and windows. If you have a thumb latch lock and a deadbolt on your doors, always lock the dead bolt. Double-check weaker doors such as patio and sliding ones to make sure their locks are strong enough to withstand kicks. When you leave your home, don't forget to lock up the door leading from the garage to inside. Even if your garage door is down, someone can easily open it.

Content courtesy for Foremost.com 

​As you purchase gifts this holiday season, don’t forget to protect any valuables you buy.  Make it a Happy and Safe New Year!

And as always, do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or for a complimentary coverage review. We’re here to help. 

​When it comes to protecting your home and belongings, understanding your insurance options is crucial. Two common types of coverage are replacement cost value (RCV) and actual cash value (ACV). 

To help clarify your options, we've prepared an overview of these coverages. Swipe through to learn more. 

Contact us today to discuss your coverage needs and find the best solution for your peace of mind.

​As 2025 kicks off, it’s the perfect time to refresh your homeowners insurance and make sure you’re fully covered against winter’s unexpected challenges! ❄️ 

With this in mind, we have put together a quick breakdown of what your policy should include. Have questions or want to discuss your options? Contact us today!

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​College is expensive enough without finding out too late that an accident or theft isn’t covered under your current policies. So, as you get your children ready to head off to school in the fall, there’s one vital “to-do” to add to your list (other than writing that tuition check): a review of your insurance coverage.

It's important to keep in mind that policy language varies from state to state, and there are never "one-size-fits-all" situations, but below is a general guide. If you have questions, or want to go over your insurance needs, don’t hesitate to contact us!
 
HOMEOWNERS (may vary by state and individual policy)

• Coverage of personal property: Most homeowners policies provide 10 percent of Coverage C (Personal Property) for property owned by an insured that is at a residence other than the insured’s.  For example, if the contents of a policyholder’s home are insured for $100,000, a student’s property up to $10,000 would be covered if living in a dormitory – provided the damage is caused by a covered peril and the student meets the definition of an insured.
• For apartments or houses off-campus, the same coverage generally applies. Certain items, such as jewelry or expensive electronics, may require special coverage, or a “rider.” Renters insurance is strongly recommended if a particular policy does not cover a student’s personal property.
• Liability coverage: There usually is an exclusion for damage to property rented to an insured, so generally damage to a dorm room or apartment would not be covered.
• Ensuring adequate coverage:  Contact us to get specific answers and information about your coverages. Also, it’s a great idea to create an inventory of the items your student is taking to school, as is keeping photos of and receipts for the items.
• Renters insurance: If your student’s needs can't be met under your current policy, don't forget renters insurance. Landlords’ policies generally only cover the structure, not the possessions of renters.

 
AUTO (may vary by state)

• Coverage without a car at school: If your student will continue to drive while at home on school breaks, they should continue to be listed on your auto policy. If they are attending school more than 100 miles from home, and are not taking a vehicle with them, the policy may qualify for a distant-student discount.
• Coverage with a car at school: In most instances, a car registered to parents and listed on their policy will be covered if used by a listed student away at school. But you should make sure that your insurance carrier writes coverage in the college’s state and location. And note that a change to the principal location of the vehicle could result in a change in premium.
• Driving a friend’s car at school: Students generally would be covered while driving a friend’s car if the students are listed on their parents’ policy and do not have regular use of the vehicle. The coverage would likely be secondary in this case, as the carrier for the friend’s vehicle likely would be the primary coverage.
• Coverage discounts: In addition to the possible distant-student discount mentioned above, students may qualify for a good-student discount. To qualify, most insurance carriers require that a student must be enrolled in at least four courses per term as a full-time student at an accredited college or university and meet certain academic qualifications. Also, drivers under the age of 21 who complete a driver education course may be eligible for a policy discount.

 
Going away to school is an exciting time for both students and their parents. Making sure you’ve got the right insurance coverage can help you protect your assets as you invest in your child’s future. We’re happy to discuss your coverage and options — just give us a call at First Community Financial Group or stop by and see us!