Insurance

The Importance of Having Home Flood Insurance in the State of Texas

Why Every Homeowner in Texas Needs Flood Insurance: A Personal Story

Floods are one of the most devastating natural disasters that can happen to a homeowner, causing significant damage to property and financial loss. Unfortunately, flooding is common in Texas due to its geography and weather patterns, making flood insurance a necessity for homeowners.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Texas has had 21 major flood events since 2015, with an estimated $4.3 billion in damages. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused massive flooding throughout Texas, with more than 154,000 homes damaged or destroyed. Sadly, many homeowners were not insured or underinsured, causing significant financial strain and delaying their recovery efforts.

Even if you are not in a designated flood zone, it is still crucial to consider purchasing flood insurance. As a homeowner in Texas, I understand the importance of having flood insurance, regardless of my property's location. I built my home in 1999, and I have carried flood insurance since then. I saw the devastation my in-laws had from flooding during a slow-moving storm in 1994, which dropped 20-30 inches of rain throughout Montgomery County and the surrounding area, causing flooding that had never been seen before. As a result, my family and I knew that having flood insurance was crucial.  

Having flood insurance allowed my family to minimize our financial losses when we flooded during Hurricane Harvey. We did not have to dip into our retirement savings to restore our home, nor did we have to wait for government assistance.  In fact, we were able to restore our home and get back into our home within 5 months.  To some degree, I had what you may call "Survivors Guilt".  Unfortunately, some homeowners are still waiting for help years after their homes were damaged or destroyed by floods.

Flood insurance is not included in most homeowners' insurance policies, but it is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is administered by FEMA. The NFIP provides affordable flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners in communities that participate in the program. Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to go into effect, so it is important to purchase a policy before flooding occurs.  I am able to offer quotes with both private and NFIP plans.  Most people believe flood insurance is expensive...for most it can be less than a signature cup of java per week.

Flood insurance coverage varies based on your policy, but it typically covers damages caused by heavy rains, storm surges, and overflowing bodies of water. It can also cover damage caused by mudflows, which are common in Texas. Flood insurance can help you recover from a flood event and avoid financial hardship.

In conclusion, flooding can occur anywhere in Texas, and it is important to consider purchasing flood insurance to protect your property and finances. As a homeowner who has experienced flooding, I highly recommend that you purchase flood insurance, even if you are not in a designated flood zone. Don't wait until it's too late; contact me today to learn more about flood insurance and how to protect your home from flood damage.

 

Jeanna Bumpas

Helix Insurance Group

JBumpas@HelixInsuranceGroup.com

www.JeannaBumpas.Biz

 

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The Best 10  ways to make sure you get all you are entitled to in the event of a Home or Property Incident or Natural Disaster 

1)  Take a Video of each Room in your Home and Store it, or take 4 pictures of each room in your Home.

2) Make an Inventory list of all itmes in your Home and estimate their Value,  (note: save all receipts of your purchases and store in a file or scan them to a Digital File .

3) If you have Valuable Items, such as Jewelry, Coin Collections, Valuable Art Work, etc, make sure you have an itemized listing,  (note many homeowners polices have limited standard amount, so you may need an Additonal endorsement or seperate policy for those items, Example:  I have an Extensive Coin Collection and some Art Pieces, So I have a Seperate Policy to insure those Items)

4)  Always purchase an Umbrella Policy, this will make sure you have ample Coverage, with Inflation, and our extremely vioatle Legal Climate, you need to have the Extra coveraes. 

5)  Always File your Claim immediately after the Incident Occurs, if it is a Theft Claim, Make sure you call and get a Case # from your local Law Enforcement Agency, They will provide them over the phone.   Carry an Accident form or incident form in You Glove Box. ( if you need an Auto Accident Instruction Form, Call us At ABM Insurance at 800 362 2809 , and we will send you a form, and a Jacket to store you Insurance information for you Car and Home)

6) You have the right to use an Independent Adjuster for your Claims,  Make sure you have your Roof inspected every 6 years or After a Storm. 

7) Water Damage , most Homeowners plans will not cover damage to Sewer Lines on the outside of your Home, Make sure you have the Endorsement to cover this or add the Additional Water Line Coverage. 

8) Never Take the Minimum Lmits on your Auto Policy, with the Cost of New Vehicles at all time Highs, you should have No Less Than 100,000/300,000/100,000.  if you have a Classic Car, you should purchase a Collectors Car Policy from a Carrier Like Hagerty.  Always carry Uninsured, Underinsured coverage, many people who may hit you, may not have Coverage.  

9)  Make sure you are getting All the Discounts You are enriled to,  if you dont Ask for them you may not get them, There are Numerious Discounts on both Auto and Home Policies. Always ask if they are going to run your Credit, as too many hits on your Credit Report, can lower your Credit Score. 

10) Always Shop your Coverage every Three Years, or if you have an accident, shop the next year, as some Insures have Accident Forgiveness after an accident, this could save you $$$$

If you would like a Free Analysis of your Current Home and Auto Policy , Call Misty, Edlin, Meaghan, or Brandi at ABM Insurance & Benefit Services at 281 448 3040, its Free and can let you know if you have the proper coverage, and have the Best Rate Available to You. 

With the on going Pandemic, is your Business training your Employee's in Proper Workplace manners and your Customers in this Lawsuit happy climate we all live in.  Have your Checked your Liability Coverages lately, many of the coverage are not written to cover the Covid exposure to your business and your Customers.  This coverage is covered by your General Liability Coverages, and Professional Liability Insurance Policies.  Employers must provide employees with 8 kits per person, Is this covered by your Health Plan, some do some dont. 

The DC Administration, has made this a requirement to provide all employees with at least 8 Covid Home Test per month.  You certainly want to have this included in your Liability Coverages and Health Plans. 

If you travel overseas, You need to have a Travel Policy that includes Covid coverage,  All the Travel Policies we sell all include Covid coverage and testing,  if you are not a citizen of that Country you are in, That country does not have to provide Covid testing or treatment for non citizens , they take care of their Citizens 1st, and if you dont have coverage for Covid, well lets not let that happen .

Insurance is all about Protection against Risk, Let us at ABM be your Risk Manager , so you are not left out in the Cold sands, like what just Happened in Tonga, outside of New Zealand, after the Volcano eruption in the ocean. 

Call us anytime, Ask for Taylor Thornton or Mike Alexander Jr .. Be Prepared where ever you are. 

at 281 448 3040  or 800 362 2809

On average, twice as many children are killed while walking on Halloween compared to the rest of the year. And with drugged driving on the rise, hazards are even greater.  Here's what to know and share.

Why is drugged driving so dangerous?

  • It's a growing problem. The Governors Highway Safety Association found that 44% of fatally-injured drivers tested positive for drugs, up from 28% just 10 years ago.
     
  • It's deadly. Almost half of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive.
     
  • It's widespread. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tracks over 400 drugs that cause impairment and almost 50% of Americans have used at least one prescription drug in the past month.

How could an umbrella with excess UM/UIM help protect your insured?

  • An umbrella can protect assets and pay for medical and legal expenses beyond the homeowners/renters and auto policies if they’re at fault.
     
  • Excess UM/UIM helps with accidents when the other driver is at fault and doesn't have any — or enough — coverage.
     
  • It can take care of things like medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and emotional distress — for the insured and any passengers.

Thank you to our Partner PersonalUmbrella.com for providing this valuable information.

Jeanna Bumpas             

832-527-8402       

JBumpas@HelixInsuranceGroup.com

Have you Heard of the PPC (Patient Physician Cooperative ).

This Cooperative has been in Business since 2005.  It is owned by a group of Physicians in Houston, Texas and Portland Oregon. 

If you use the cooperative Primary Care Doctors, your Office Visit, Lab, Xrays and Imaging (MRI, PetScans, Cat Scans) are covered at 100%. You also have a Prescription Drug Plan, and a Dental & Vision program is included also.  They also have a Group Insurance program with an A + rated Carrier to cover hospital and surgery up to 5 million.  Affordable Coverage for Individuals & Companies.  Rates from $109 Per Person to $296, depending upon coverage Selections.   This is NOT Obamacare, and the Plan Has No Deductible, and Out of Pocket Cost are capped at $7330 or Less per year.   All Pre Existing Conditions. are covered and a Full Time Patient Advocate is provided to assist individuals to get the Best Care Possible and a Health Care Debit Card is provided Allowing you to See any Specialist.  (the Health Debit Card Contributions, can be as Low as $30 per month, and are Tax free contributions, that Can be used Tax Free,   A good Way to Shelter money from Taxes.  As You Know Taxes are Going UP for everyone, so the HRA, account can help you or your Business save $$$$ .

For more Information about the Co Op Contact Mike Alexander at ABM Insurance and Benefit Services Inc at 800 362 2809