Wind, Hail, Flood and Other Homeowner Insurance Coverages. You may have to buy separate policies to cover wind, hail, and flood damage. Homeowners, farm and ranch, renters, windstorm, and condominium policies do not cover damage from rising waters. • •
Use the One-Step Flood Risk Profile feature on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) website to determine your relative flood risk. Use the Homeowners, Flood, and Windstorm Policies Comparison chart to see the differences between homeowners, flood, and wind and hail insurance.
Flood Insurance Texas ranks near the top of the nation in weather-related property damage each year. A large portion of this damage is caused by flooding. Homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. To protect yourself from lossescaused by most flooding, you can purchase a separate flood insurance policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Local insurance agents sell NFIP flood policies and can tell you about the program in your area. For more information, call NFIP. 1-800-427-4661 www.floodsmart.gov If a lender determines that a property is at a high risk of flooding (called being in a “special flood hazard area”), it will require you to purchase flood insurance. A special flood hazard area has a 1 percent chance of being flooded in any given year. NFIP defines a flood as an excessof water on land that is normally dry, including overflow of inland or tidal waters. Hurricanes and Windstorm Insurance The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) is the state’s insurer of last resort for wind and hail coverage in the 14 coastal counties and parts of Harris County on Galveston Bay. TWIA provides wind and hail coverage when insurance companies exclude it from homeowners and other property policies sold to coastal residents. You can buy TWIA coverage through local insurance agents if you need it.
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- Posted by Ben H uynh, REALTOR® Houston TX 281.561.5386. “FREE NOTARY PUBL IC.” http:// www.HAR.com/BenHuynh BenRealEstate@yahoo.com “Open Doors, Closing
Deals.” Referral is appreciated. You can Text, IM, Email or Call me during & after business hours @ 832-607-1679 (T Mobile). * Follow me on Twitter! ** Be “friend” on Facebook! Find me on Google or any Search Engines by typing "BenHuynh" or "Ben Huynh”
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When a hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico (80 degreeslongitude and 20 degreeslatitude), you can no longer change or purchase new windstorm coverage.
If you plan to build, add to, or renovate a home or other structure and want to obtain or maintain TWIA coverage, you must have an inspection of your property during the construction phase. A TDI windstorm inspector can conduct an inspection for free, or you can use a Texas licensed professional engineer appointed by TDI. Your agent can tell you how to get an inspection. For more information about windstorm coverage, contact TWIA 1-800-788-8247 www.twia.org Flood insurance requirement. Certain Gulf Coast residents may be required to purchase flood insurance on their property before they are eligible for a TWIA policy. The requirement applies to you if: • • •
you constructed, altered, remodeled, or enlarged your property (to the extent that a certificate of compliance is required) on or after September 1, 2009; any part of the property is located in flood zones V, VE, or V1-V30 as defined by NFIP; and flood coverage is available from the NFIP. Note: Property repairs are excluded from the requirement. Repair is defined as the reconstruction or restoration of a structure that is damaged or deteriorated.
To view flood maps, visit FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov. Note: Review the Homeowners, Flood, and Windstorm Policies Comparison above to see the differences between homeowners, flood, and wind and hail insurance. Earthquake Insurance If you are concerned about earthquakes, you can get coverage with a separate policy. The cost is relatively low becauseearthquakes are rare in Texas. Extra Coverage (Endorsements) You might want more coverage than your policy provides for certain items. For an extra premium, you may be able to buy endorsements that expand or increasethe coverage on
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- Posted by Ben H uynh, REALTOR® Houston TX 281.561.5386. “FREE NOTARY PUBL IC.” http:// www.HAR.com/BenHuynh BenRealEstate@yahoo.com “Open Doors, Closing
Deals.” Referral is appreciated. You can Text, IM, Email or Call me during & after business hours @ 832-607-1679 (T Mobile). * Follow me on Twitter! ** Be “friend” on Facebook! Find me on Google or any Search Engines by typing "BenHuynh" or "Ben Huynh”
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these items. Someof the most common endorsements expand or increasecoverage for jewelry, fine arts, camera equipment, coin or stamp collections, computer equipment, and radio and television satellite dishes and antennas.
Personal Umbrella Liability Insurance If you have assets to protect and want more liability coverage than a homeowners policy provides, you can buy a separate umbrella policy. Becausepolicies vary, make sure the agent or company fully explains the coverage. For more information contact: ConsumerProtection@tdi.state.tx.us Last updated: 08/12/2011 ………
Please click on the link(s) below to view. Thank you. Source(s): http://www.tdi.texas.gov/home/windplus.html
http://www.iii.org/
http://www.iii.org/press_releases/hurricane-irene-faqs-what-is-covered-or-not-in-your-insurance-policies.html
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- Posted by Ben H uynh, REALTOR® Houston TX 281.561.5386. “FREE NOTARY PUBL IC.” http:// www.HAR.com/BenHuynh BenRealEstate@yahoo.com “Open Doors, Closing
Deals.” Referral is appreciated. You can Text, IM, Email or Call me during & after business hours @ 832-607-1679 (T Mobile). * Follow me on Twitter! ** Be “friend” on Facebook! Find me on Google or any Search Engines by typing "BenHuynh" or "Ben Huynh”
View my documents on www.Scribd.com