You may want flood insurance for snow season

By Justin Hunter

Snow storms are usually fun for about five minutes as you remember back to the days as a child when you made a snow fort or threw snowballs at your neighbor, then you start to think about the hazards involved, and not just slipping on the ice.

Shoveling snow from your driveway may be the least of your troubles this snow season. Power outages and pipe damage are common occurrences resulting from even basic snow storms. Luckily you have insurance. But not everything you thought was covered is covered in your insurance policy.

The article, “Freaky Friday Snow Storm Stirs Insurance Awareness,” written by Broderick Perkins and posted in the October 17, 2006 edition of Realty Times, explains how several people are finding out today in New York that their insurance coverage is not all it was cracked up to be.

“Wet and heavy, a freaky Friday the 13th [snow] storm was blamed for several deaths as it broke branches from trees, toppled power lines and turned out the lights in some 350,000 homes and businesses in western New York State alone.”

Residents in areas that expect at least one or two snow storms a year should use this early wakeup call as a warning not just to get the shovel out from underneath the bags of clothes in the basement, but rather to check their insurance protection.

“Snow is, after all, frozen water and insurers have canceled policies, curtailed coverage and raised rates to beat back the growing numbers of claims paid for water- and moisture-related damage.”

A standard homeowner’s policy will typically cover financial losses related to bursting pipes, ice damage, wind damage, wind driven moisture damage or collapse caused by the weight of ice or snow and backed-up sewers and drains.
“However, if you didn't remove snow or ice from your property within a reasonable period -- often including the sidewalk in front of your home -- you could be liable for negligence.”

That’s right, snow melts and when snow melts, it creates water, which when a large pile of snow melts in one area, swells and lakes commonly form. All this heavy water can be more damaging than an actual rain storm because the melting ice is heavy and concentrated on certain areas which can easily penetrate the basement walls and floor. To protect against this, you will need to obtain separate flood insurance.

The insurance industry has recommended several actions that can help prevent a resident from getting burned by unpaid insurance claims.

“Remove leaves, sticks and debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. Otherwise ice damming could occur leaving water unable to drain down the gutters but instead seep into the house.”

“Trim trees. Remove dead branches that ice, snow and wind can snap, causing damage to your home or car, and injury to people on your property.”

There are several other advisory warning such as cleaning accumulated snow off rooftops, salting steps, sealing cracks in windows and doors, check pipes and drainage.

Snow can damage your home more than you think. It is more damaging than a rain storm because the snow is heavier and you have other things to do than to remember to clear a path from your basement. Take caution and get flood insurance.

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