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[kivah]

I've been in California many years - but this is the first time I'm concerned. Today I emailed my insurance agent and it will cost me $430/year - reasonable. I live in Oxnard, CA and there have been problems with the sewers connecting properly to the houses. Last year, I had a flood in my downstairs bedroom, bathroom, family room and laundry room - due to  roots in the clean-out pipe in my front yard.

[151949]

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@kivah wrote:

I've been in California many years - but this is the first time I'm concerned. Today I emailed my insurance agent and it will cost me $430/year - reasonable. I live in Oxnard, CA and there have been problems with the sewers connecting properly to the houses. Last year, I had a flood in my downstairs bedroom, bathroom, family room and laundry room - due to  roots in the clean-out pipe in my front yard.

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Flood insurance does not cover sewer backup.

[151949]

Those who are considering getting flood insurance -- you need to understand exactly what flood insurance covers. I have read here 2 things that someone thought was covered by flood insurance that is not - storm surge and sewer backup - and I'm sure there are other things as well. I just happen to be aware of these two because  our agent explained to us that we need storm surge as a separate insurance because we live close to the coast and flood doesn't cover it and when we lived in Pittsburgh we lived in a valley at the bottom of 3 hills and would get sewer backup (fortunately the sewer drain was outside in the driveway) and when DH asked our agent about flood ins he said they don't cover sewer backup - that is a separate ins.

Anyway - just want to be certain that everyone understands they need to ask specifically what is covered.

[Pecky]

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@151949 wrote:

Those who are considering getting flood insurance -- you need to understand exactly what flood insurance covers. I have read here 2 things that someone thought was covered by flood insurance that is not - storm surge and sewer backup - and I'm sure there are other things as well. I just happen to be aware of these two because  our agent explained to us that we need storm surge as a separate insurance because we live close to the coast and flood doesn't cover it and when we lived in Pittsburgh we lived in a valley at the bottom of 3 hills and would get sewer backup (fortunately the sewer drain was outside in the driveway) and when DH asked our agent about flood ins he said they don't cover sewer backup - that is a separate ins.

Anyway - just want to be certain that everyone understands they need to ask specifically what is covered.

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Excellent advice.  I use to work for a insurance company & agency.  All flood insurance is not the same and is different in every state. In my state  if you are in a flood zone & you have a mortgage you have to get flood insurance and it is based on what you owe on your mortgage. Friends of mine are required to have it and for not much coverage it's around $2,000 & up a year.  If your sump pumps malfunctions and you have water in the basement flood insurance doesn't cover it.  If you are thinking about flood insurance please make sure your agent knows everything about what exactly is covered. 

[kivah]

Fortunately, my homeowners insurance covered repairs in my house due to roots in the pipe in my front yard. I paid the high-copay.