Flood Clean Up “Check Up”
By the Macomb County Experts

Spring is flood season in Michigan. In fact, floods are the #1 natural disaster in the United States. Annually, total flood insurance claims average more than $3.5 billion.

Are you prepared for spring flood weather? You can minimize the danger of flood damage with an annual checkup! We recommend setting aside one afternoon every spring and taking the following easy steps, as a flood prevention “check up”.

Flood Clean Up “Check Up” Steps:

(1.) Inspect Your Sump Pump

If you rely on a sump pump to keep your basement dry, have it inspected and cleaned at least every few years.  Sump pumps do not last forever, and sump pump failure is one of the most common causes of basement flooding. The older your sump pump, the more often you should have it checked.

(2.) Double Check Your Basement

While you are downstairs checking your sump pump, it is a prudent idea to do a “walk through” in your basement and make sure all paper, cloth, electronic, and valuable items are well above floor level.

In Macomb County, Michigan, most homes have basements. And we all know how easy it is to just store items we aren’t using downstairs – out of sight is out of mind. At first we are usually careful to keep boxes of books, clothing and other water sensitive items off the floor. But as things get moved around over time, irreplaceable items (documents, your children’s artwork, etc.) may get shifted to a flood-susceptible location!

A quick “spring cleaning” – moving boxes off the floor and lower shelves – can prevent flood damage, and make flood clean up much easier!

(3.) Inventory Your Contents before Flood Clean Up

Many flood clean up insurance claims are denied by an insurer because the homeowner has no “proof” of the value of the items that were damaged or destroyed. But with the ease of taking cell phone video, this problem is easily prevented.

While you are downstairs, take a video of its contents. Video your furniture and personal possessions -and open boxes if necessary. A video record of your possessions can make collecting on a flood clean up insurance claim much easier.

(4.) Talk to Your Insurance Agent about Flood Clean Up Insurance

Most insurance policies do not cover damage from flooding. While some insurance policies cover water damage from burst pipes or ice dams, many exclude water damage from actual floods. So it is wise to talk to your agent about what flood damage coverage you have, and what flood damage coverage you may need to add.

The average flood clean up insurance claim is over $40,000! However, the average flood insurance policy premium was only about $700 per year. Is it worth $60 a month to you to be covered in case of flood? Only you and your insurance agent can decide!