It is often hard to know what kind of a policy you should invest in. Many home and business owners are unaware of what the typical cost for such coverage is and what the benefits of the coverage can be. To find the right insurance for you, it is important to understanding a little bit about what flood coverage is, what kinds of policies exist, and, most importantly, what coverage fits for your particular flood risk.

What is Flood Insurance?
There are three basic types of flood insurance:

Dwelling
"Dwelling" insurance usually covers residential buildings that contain no more than four families, residential condominium units, manufactured homes, and the storage contents of the insured building's tenants.

General Property
"General property" policies tend to cover larger residential buildings like those that house more than four family units as well as certain commercial buildings, such as churches, schools, and small businesses.

Preferred Risk
"Preferred risk" policies are generally offered at a lower cost to residential and commercial building owners with a low to moderate flood risk levels.

Why Get Flood Insurance?
Many people don't feel the need to protect themselves with flood insurance because of their location or the construction of their home. What these people don't understand is that even a few inches of standing or moving water can cost thousands of dollars in infrastructure and restoration work. Flood insurance not only helps cover the financial burden of flood damage but many providers can help you find other disaster relief services, such as document restoration specialists.

Questions For Your Agent
Like any major purchase, it is important to understand what you will get and what the complete costs are up front. Take the time to ask your agent questions so that it is clear how your coverage will work.

Here are questions you should make sure you know the answers to when discussing policies with your insurance provider:

? Do I live in a flood zone? If so, how will my location affect the cost and benefits of my policy?
? What will be covered by my new flood policy and what won't be covered?
? How much is the cost of the policy fee and premium, and are there hidden expenses or fees I need to know about?
? Do I need coverage for my building only, its contents only, or both?

Filing a Flood Damage Claim
Contact your insurance agent or company as soon as you realize that you have flood damage. Make sure you have the name of your insurance company and your policy number in an easily-accessible place. This will help speed up the filing process. You insurance provider will then schedule a visit with a claims adjuster and advise you on how they will proceed with your claim.

After you've contacted your agent you will need to make a list of all damaged or lost valuables. Separate your damaged goods from the undamaged ones and, with the help of your adjuster, start itemizing and calculating the value of the destroyed property.

Purchasing the right flood insurance doesn't need to be an overwhelming experience. With a little research and an honest agency you can find an affordable plan that will cover your valuables should the unthinkable occur.

~Ben Anton, 2008