Flood & Homeowners Insurance?
 

Is there a need for flood insurance in the Village of Hillsborough? And who do you have for your Homeowners insurance? I would like to do some comparison shopping, I took the Villages insurance during closing.
Thank you in advance for your opinions.

Call your insurance agent. They should have flood maps that will aid in your decision.

That is a good question.... I sometimes wonder if I need flood insurance or not. I am NOT located in a flood plane, so conventional wisdoms, says, I don't need it or am not required [by mortgage co.] to have it.

However, I have been here through a couple of the huge summer downpours, where we receive several inches of rain in a short time. All of our storm water goes to the retention ponds, thoughtout The Villages. After these downpours, I have seen the ponds very full. I'm wondering what would happen if storm water were not able to drain into the ponds or if the water backs up into the streets and eventually into our homes. I recognize this would take a lot of rain, but I'm thinking a tropical system, lasting more than a day with several of inches of rain per day might overwhelm the drainage system.

In this scenario, your homeowners insurance would not cover any damage from water coming into your home and you'd be out of pocket for any damages.

Have others consider this possibility or am I just being paranoid ??

unless you are in a flood plane it is only 200 to 300 dollars. All it takes is one hurricane, which if one is heading towards us, it's to late since there is a 30 day period before coverage goes into affect. It was worth the peace of mind to me.

not paranoid memason just prudent

Hi memason,

We have it. We are not paranoid.

And I think you just answered your own question.

Geology is the only science I ever truly loved. Your scenario is my scenario. -- etc.

Flood insurance is in the cost-of-sleep category for me.

As a former hydrologist/flood forecaster, I feel I need to qualify my remarks above.

IF flood maps have been extrapolated for your newly developed area, they are likely of dubious quality because of the extensive infrastructure development here (which is still in progress). There is no history.

So, no one can tell you whether or not to purchase flood insurance with any degree of certainty.

As others have said, if you'll sleep better because you have it, buy it.

Make sure you can get sinkhole insurance if you switch insurance companies. The damage caused by a sinkhole would be much higher than water damage around here.

I was in the Flood Insurance Claims business since 1991. If you need accurate info on flood insurance send me a PM with your phone or email address. I know more about the flood policy than any agent. They just sell the policy. I was the person who handled your claim and told you that the agent was wrong when they told you that was covered!

Aren't the resources available on TOTV amazing? sounds like you have some very helpful info.

Before you're deluged (excuse the pun) with pms, why not post the info, or a link to it, so we all have access without a lot of work on your part? This would be of interest to everyone in TV. Thanks!:o

...

If I'm not mistaken, flood insurance is separate and distinct from hurricane insurance, which is usually a part of your homeowners policy.

flooding caused by hurricanes is not covered by your homeowners policy.

We have it. The only time that we have not had flood insurance was while living on a mountain ridge 1400 feet above sea level. A flood at that point would have been more of the "Noah, this is the Lord..." variety.

Sumter Co's gis has the updated ( roughly 2 years ago) flood maps. you can look at them and be surprised at where they calculate there is a risk of 100 year flooding.

IIRC, for flood insurance to kick in you need rising water and something like 2 out of 3 neighbors must have also had flooding (or something like that) - the insurance guy who posted earlier, please help us out here!

I believe that was TNLAKEPANDA. Looking forward to more info from him/her.

Partially true, for my policy, which I just read again. Flooding caused by storm surge, is not covered by my policy. However, water in the form of rain or snow (that's a funny) entering the structure as a result of wind damage opening the structure, is covered.

If the storm surge makes it to TV, we'll have much bigger problems than flood insurance.

comparing insurance cost question...
 

Our home insurance covers everything except a Moses bite (reminder to get muzzle for Moses, Ha!) $500 deductibles for hurricane and other perils, sinkhole losses is 10%-$29,000....Cost approx. $1500 /yr. we have insurance thru Village Insurance thru ASI. Curious about other insurance costs on homes (variables of course would be sq. footage, and coverage requested)

Yes, that is my understanding. I believe typical homeowner policies cover you if the water is coming out of the sky. Once it is on the ground you need flood insurance.

This person has very good advice. They are still moving dirt around and building things in the newest areas.

But in eight years we haven't had a problem. When it is pouring rain the sprinklers go on and keep the ponds from flooding. The only standing water I have seen in eight years was at the intersection near Mallory/Caroline and it wasn't enough to stop traffic. And that was four years ago. And that was the unusual day when seven inches of rain fell in a little over 24 hours.

The policy definition of a flood is:

1. "A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of tow or more acres of normally dry land area or tow or more properties (one of which is your property) from:

a. Overflow of inland or tidal waters,

b. Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.

c. Mudflow

2. Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in flooding as in A.1.a above.

There you have it in clear and concise government terms. Flooding does not have to come from a hurricane or rain fall. Example a car hits the fire hydrant across the street. The water floods the street your yard or your yard and your neighbors yard and enters your home. You have a covered flood under the flood policy. Please not the policy only covers your home (and content items if you have contents coverage). It does not cover your landscaping or drive or anything outside your house other than your AC unit.

Hope this helps.

:click: https://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/

Not sure about flood insurance but we had water damage from our water pipes under our foundation. The leak was coming through a hairline crack in the concrete between the wall of our kitchen/laundry room. At first we thought it was the frig water line, but it wasn't. We called The Villages Insurance and our ASI claims agent was on it very quickly. The specialist that came out to "find the origin" wasn't sure if it was actually where the water was entering the home or if that's where it found a place - so it was recommended that we have our water re-routed through the attic and down into each room in our home where there is a fixture. That was done in ONE day by Affordable and Reliable plumbing out of Belleview. It is now over 2 months later and they are just re-installing the 2 kitchen cabinets that were damaged by the water and had to be rebuilt because the model we have was discontinued by the manufacturer. The coordination of our damages was handled by Paul Davis Restoration in Belleview. I would never recommend them to my worst enemy. We have built several custom homes, put on a complicated addition on another and this experience has to be the worst contracting experience in our life. I felt like I was micro-managing the process. Our ASI agent told us we could switch to anyone we wanted, but by that time the cabinets had already been removed, there were drywall holes in every room and we were frustrated beyond words. I can only say I'm glad it's over. I feel better with the water running over the house rather than under because now if we have a leak we'll see it right away. Not sure why they don't build houses that way in the first place in FL - that's how they do it "up north."

So who do you have for homeowners insurance and what do you like or dislike about them.

I'm buying a new home and The Villages is steering me to their bank and insurance agency.

I received a quote from TV Ins, fearing sinkhole coverage, which was very good. However I went with the same carrier thru AAA, with the same sinkhole coverage. My neighbor is a veteran like yourself and he insured thru USAA (think that's the name) and got sinkhole coverage as well. Good Luck!

If I'm not mistaken, most home "up north" have water pipes in the basement. Here there are no basements so they install the pipes before the concrete slabs are poured and encase them in the concrete.

I don't know it's I'd like water pipes in my attic. If you get a leak it will come through the ceiling and get on everything.

Were the cabinets that were damaged bottom cabinets? If you have water running through the attic, you run the risk of both top and bottom cabinets being damaged as well as the entire height of the wall. Or, maybe I'm not understand this correctly.

So, likes and dislikes for homeowners insurance?

Anyone have any experiences they's like to share?

Would expect with more streets etc. that this map would be on the conservative side as far as fooding. Put in 32163 for the zip code for our area.

FloodTools.com - Map My Risk