Category: Flood Insurance

When you own a home, you need insurance to protect yourself and your investment. One of these is home insurance, which is essential for financial protection in case of a damaging event. However, as a homeowner, you also need to have flood insurance. Every homeowner should have it for a number of reasons. If you don’t have flood insurance for your home, call us at Stalwart Insurance in Pittsburgh, PA.

Complete Protection

Many people don’t think they need to get flood insurance because they have a home insurance policy. However, floods aren’t covered under home insurance policies. Floods are specifically excluded from the coverage you get from them. To have full protection for your home, you need to have a flood policy in addition to your home policy. 

Floods and Flood Zones

Another reason that many people believe they don’t need flood insurance is that they don’t live in a flood zone. Flood zones are designated areas known to flood on a certain schedule, such as every 20 or 50 years. When you live in a flood zone, getting flood insurance is required to mitigate the risk. However, not all floods happen in designated flood zones. When flood claims come in, about one in five are from an area outside of flood zones. That makes it necessary for all homeowners to have flood insurance for financial protection. 

Get Your Flood Insurance Policy

It’s vital that you protect your home financially. It’s usually the largest investment that a homeowner has. If a flood happens to your home, it can cause extensive damage. If you only have home insurance, you’d be forced to pay for all the repairs yourself. Call us at Stalwart Insurance in Pittsburgh, PA to get flood insurance.

Real estate can be an excellent investment if you are in the Pittsburgh, PA area. When you are in this part of the state, it is essential that you always have the right insurance for your property. In many cases, this can include having a full flood insurance plan. There are many reasons why it is a good idea to get a proper flood insurance policy when in this part of Pennsylvania. 

Offset Potential Flood Damage

A reason to have flood insurance when you are in this area is to offset the risk of flood damage. If you have ever had a home damaged by floodwaters, you will know how serious of an issue it can be. In many cases, you will not have protection for this risk through a normal home insurance policy. However, if you do have flood coverage, it will provide the support you need to make repairs following flood damage. 

Comply with Lender Requirements

You may also want to have a flood insurance plan so you can comply with various lender requirements. If your lender determines that your home is in a high-risk flood zone, the lender will likely require that you carry insurance. This coverage will ensure that you have support to cover flood damage, which will help the lender protect their collateral. In many situations, you will need to have these payments escrowed each month. 

A flood insurance policy is a good form of coverage if you are in the Pittsburgh, PA area. When you are looking for this type of insurance here, you can begin your search by calling our team with Stalwart Insurance. Our insurance professionals at Stalwart Insurance know the value of this coverage and can help you build the right policy that protects you and your home. 

While flood insurance covers a lot related to your Pittsburgh, PA home or business, it does not cover self-propelled vehicles, including cars, SUVs, minivans, trucks, motorcycles, and RVs. Comprehensive coverage on an auto or RV policy pays for your automobile’s flood damage, according to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Transportation Flood Insurance Does Cover

Flood insurance does cover some modes of transportation, including bicycles and electric bikes that you also have to pedal. A child’s tricycle or toy vehicles that they pedal or push receive coverage.

Your Garage and Most of Its Items Flood Insurance Covers

Your actual garage does receive coverage, whether attached or detached from the home. If a flood damages the structure, such as the walls, flooring, windows, ceiling, etc., the policy covers the repairs for the damage.

Your personal belongings inside the garage receive coverage from the flood policy with a big exception. Your camping gear, tools, and other items stored there do enjoy coverage from flood insurance. So, what doesn’t?

What is not covered by a Flood Policy Cover?

Automotive and motorcycle parts do not incur coverage under the policy. Just like autos, they’re not covered by flood insurance.

Contact Stalwart Insurance

At Stalwart Insurance, we want our clients to understand their flood coverage and which of their personal belongings or landscape structures require other insurance protection. Let us help protect your Pittsburgh, PA home or business. We can help you obtain flood insurance to cover your home or business structure and the items within it, then add to it with other insurance to protect your vehicles. Contact us today about flood insurance.

Stalwart Insurance can help homeowners in the greater Pittsburgh, PA area find the right flood insurance policies to protect their homes. Flood insurance is often a brilliant idea for homeowners who don’t live in a flood zone. Contact our office to find out more!

Why flood insurance is such a great idea

The main reason that flood insurance is a smart idea is that most homeowners’ policies don’t cover losses and damage caused by flood water. If you live outside of a flood zone but in an area that receives some flooding, it may be time to consider getting a flood insurance policy. 

Many homeowner policies determine coverage based on the cause of the loss. This means that certain types of damage may not be covered depending on the cause and your specific policy. For example, water damage caused by faulty plumbing might be covered, but damage from flooding during a storm might not. This reality can cause a lot of problems for homeowners who find they lack adequate coverage. 

Every policy is different, and if, upon review of your current policy, you determine that you don’t have protection in the event of damage caused by a flood, it could be a smart idea to get a separate flood insurance policy. Damage to a home that is caused by floodwater can be significant. There’s no reason not to look into the benefits of flood insurance before you need it!

We are here to help you with your flood insurance needs!

If you own a home in the Pittsburgh, PA area and have questions about flood insurance, the team at Stalwart Insurance is here to help. Give us a call or come by our office today!

With flooding on the rise – even in areas that do not commonly see significant water accumulation – the need for flood insurance has never been higher. Depending on where you live or the type of mortgage you have, you may be required to carry flood insurance. Contrary to popular opinion, flood insurance is not covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy, and even the smallest amount of water can cause thousands in damage. 

According to FEMA, high-risk flood areas are identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map under the label "Special Flood Hazard Area." These areas meet this threshold by having a 1% or higher chance of having a flood event that equals or exceeds the previous year. If you live in a high-risk flood area and have a mortgage, you’ll be required to carry flood insurance. Low-risk flood zones are labeled as Zone C or Zone X. Bear in mind that just because you live in a low-risk flood area, it does not mean you cannot suffer damage from a flooding incident. Consequently, the best way to protect yourself and your home are to have adequate flood insurance coverage. Furthermore, FEMA’s flood zones are not updated in real-time, so you may be looking at historical data that does not adequately reflect the current situation.

For more information on flood insurance and to purchase a policy, give Stalwart Insurance in Pittsburgh, PA a call. We’ll help determine if you are in a flood zone and illustrate flood insurance’s benefits. Give us a call today to schedule a no-obligation consultation with a member of our team. 

Flood insurance is a special type of insurance that protects your property and personal belongings against flood damages. It is a separate policy from standard home insurance that usually does not cover damages caused by flooding. You can purchase flood insurance regardless of your location – flood insurance policies are available to all homeowners, even those who do not live in flood-prone areas. 

What Is Covered By Flood Insurance?

Here is what is covered by flood insurance: 

• Structural damage to the building. Flood insurance covers structural elements and essential equipment, including damage to the HVAC unit, plumbing and electrical systems. Here is what normally a flood insurance policy covers: the home itself and its foundation, built-in kitchen appliances (refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, freezer), permanently installed cabinets and shelves, detached garages, etc. 
• Personal belongings. Your personal stuff, including clothing, furniture, and other personal items is covered by flood insurance. However, the coverage may be limited for certain valuable items. 
• Content coverage for basements. Flood insurance may cover content coverage for basements but usually, this coverage is limited. 

Stalwart Insurance in Pittsburgh, PA – Your Safety Is Our Priority

You may think that you do not need flood insurance, especially if you do not live in a flood-prone area. However, this type of insurance has many benefits. If you are thinking of getting it, and you live in Pittsburgh, PA, or any other surrounding area, Stalwart Insurance is ready to help. We specialize in all types of insurance, including flood insurance. Our mission is to help our clients get insurance based on their preferences and budget. Feel free to call us if you have any questions or want to know more about the rates. 

Stalwart Insurance provides coverage to the Pittsburgh, PA community. We rely on providing excellent customer service. We recognize that our clients have unique needs, so we strive to provide personalized policies. We are confident that we can help you protect what matters most.  

Explaining The Difference Between Flood Insurance And Traditional Water Damage

Pittsburgh, PA is prone to heavy rainfall during seasonal changes. The aftermath of these storms is potential flooding. Flooding has the ability to cause serious damage to your property and personal items. Flood insurance protects your assets. You are covered if severe flooding damages the interior and exterior of your property, as well as your personal items. While researching coverage, keep in mind that there is a difference between flood damage and traditional water damage.

Flood damage is caused as a result of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, and severe thunderstorms. These powerful storms leave a lasting impact. There may be an overflow of surface water. The rapid accumulation may cause a mudflow. All of these variables can cause a current of excess water to infiltrate your property and cause damage. You can rely on flood insurance during these situations.

You cannot use flood insurance to protect your assets if they suffer traditional water damage. Examples of traditional water damage include a busted pipe that causes damage throughout your property or a leaking toilet. You’ll have to use your home or renters insurance to cover those damages.

One key difference is that traditional water damage may only impact your property. Flood damage often originates from a natural source and impacts an entire area of land. That means your neighbors are likely to have problems as well. It’s also important that you maintain proper maintenance on your home.

Stalwart Insurance Will Help You Protect What Matters Most

Visit our website to learn more information about flood insurance

Flood insurance is an essential product if you want to protect your investments in your Pittsburgh, PA home. That’s why Stalwart Insurance is here to offer you flood insurance to meet your needs.

The following are three mistakes to avoid when you purchase flood insurance for your property.

Thinking your homeowner’s insurance policy covers flood damage.

A standard homeowner’s insurance policy will not cover you for flood damage. While standard home insurance may cover damage resulting from other types of natural disasters, you need to purchase flood insurance separately or additionally to take advantage of coverage for flood damage. 

Purchasing an inadequate amount of flood insurance coverage

You should have enough flood insurance to cover you for the full costs of replacing your property. Therefore, it’s important to evaluate your property and find out how much it would cost to replace it in the event of a total loss. This way, you’ll know how much coverage you need in your flood insurance policy. 

Not being aware of changes in your flood zone classification over time.

Flood plain maps laying out the flood zones of particular areas can change over time. Changing patterns of precipitation and changing drainage capabilities of plots of land can alter the flood zone classification of a given property.

You need to periodically have your flood zone classification reevaluated to ensure that your flood coverage is covering the actual flood risk of your property. This way, you avoid putting yourself at risk of flood damage without adequate coverage. You also ensure that your flood insurance premiums remain appropriately priced over time for the actual risk your property faces. 

Get started finding reliable flood insurance options with Stalwart Insurance. Contact us with your questions and inquiries related to flood insurance coverage in Pittsburgh, PA.