Flash floods can happen suddenly, transforming the landscape from years of drought to flooded drainage ditches, rivers, creeks, streams and lakes.   Water from overflows quickly becomes contaminated with sewage.

Flood insurance claims are messy, and can turn your life upside down in a matter of days.

Experts using a complex sanitation process administer the cleanup to a flooded business or home. Incorrectly administered cleanup using too much heat or drying items too quickly can cause additional damage to property.

Private insurance companies have traditionally not covered flood damage. To address this issue, The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a program created by the Congress of the United States in 1968 through the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIP). Standard property insurance does not cover flood damage. A business or homeowner will need to purchase a separate policy from a private insurance company to be covered in the event of a flood. The NFIP ensures that the federal government reimburses the private insurance carrier for claim payments.

FEMA.gov

• A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of 2 or more acres of normally dry land area or of 2 or more properties (at least 1 of which is the policyholder’s property) from:
  • Overflow of inland or tidal waters; or
  • Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or
  • Mudflow;or
• 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 a flood as defined above.