Commissioner Reminds Coloradans To Consider Flood Insurance

Insurance Commissioner David Rivera is reminding Coloradans to consider purchasing flood insurance. “While it is very unlikely that a hurricane will hit Colorado, the extensive flooding caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are good reminders that Coloradans should look at whether flood insurance coverage is appropriate due to our often unpredictable and intense weather,” hes aid.

While Colorado is famous for its 300 days of sunshine, floods do occur in Colorado and people can protect themselves from the financial anguish of extensive damage to or loss of their home due to flooding through the purchase of flood insurance. Just an inch of water can cause substantial damage, and several inches of rain in a short period, or the quick run-off from an unseasonably warm mountain spring day have flooded Colorado communities in the past.

Homeowners and renters policies generally do not cover structural damage from flooding, though flood insurance can be purchased through many carriers under the National Flood Insurance Program both for structural and contents damage.

The Colorado Division of Insurance has a brochure on their Web site, www.dora.state.co.us/insurance, entitled “Flood Insurance” providing an overview of what flood insurance covers. In addition, the National Flood Insurance Program’s Web site, www.floodsmart.gov, provides more detailed information about flood insurance, including a tool to assess the relative risk of flooding to a piece of property based on its location.