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Areas of California Still at Risk of FloodingJanuary 24, 2010 – National Weather Service flood warnings and flood watches continued in parts of California even after a fifth day of storms, but the area is now beginning recovery. The risk has been made greater this year in some areas due to summer and autumn fires that destroyed vegetation and made mountainsides more at risk of mudslides.
On Thursday the 22nd, more than 1,000 homes were under order to evacuate because of the mudslide risks. The recent storms have caused a variety of damage, including wind and rain damage, in addition to the flooding and mudslide incidents.
Insurance companies are presently paying attention to the area, ready to process claims as they come in from storm damage. Of particular help to displaced residents, companies such as the Los Angeles-based Mercury Insurance have teams in the field working with customers to arrange for temporary housing due to property damaged such that it is unlivable.
Mercury Insurance chief claims officer Joanna Moore says that “Rain damage—like flood damage—can be very complex to evaluate, but our claims adjusters are working with policyholders to resolve property coverage claims related to leaking roofs, broken windows, and damaged roofs from felled trees or flying debris.”
Some of these damages will be covered under standard homeowner’s insurance, and some will not. Claims adjusters are busy sorting through instances of damage to determine which ones may be covered by a standard policy, and which ones, such as flooding, and mudslides, are typically not covered except under special flood insurance.
For affected residents who live outside flood zones or otherwise do not have flood coverage, it is important to get valid claims submitted quickly so they can be processed and assistance provided.
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