(740) 387-8335

Insurance Tips following Hurricane Harvey

Like you, I have been watching the news about Houston, Hurricane Harvey, and now Irma. It’s looking like this hurricane season will be the most expensive one of all time – topping the $15billion in losses that FEMA experienced in Louisiana and Mississippi. We will not know the extent of the damage for some time as the storm moves, the waters recede and the damage is uncovered. It is heartbreaking to see the loss that so many people must endure.

A Homeowner Insurance Policy will cover many types of claims – wind, rain, hail, vandalism, and more….but a standard policy will not cover flood damage from overflowing rivers and streets.

Flood coverage is usually purchased on a stand-alone policy from the National Flood Insurance Program administered by the federal government. Just about any property and casualty insurance agent can procure a flood policy with the NFLIP. NFLIP is anticipating approximately 150,000 claims from Hurricane Harvey for flood damage and Irma may add significantly to that. There will likely be another 50,000 claims for wind and rain damage that standard home insurance policies will likely pay for Harvey and more for Irma.

Sadly, there are estimates that less than 20% of the homes damaged by the flood will have a flood insurance policy to help pay for the damage..many people will be left on their own to pay for their flood-related losses.

According to FEMA the average flood claim typically ranges from $10,000 to $42,775 with a Flood Insurance Policy costing from $650 to $1500 per year.

The first 5 months of 2017 show the average claim payment for a flood loss has been $24,698. It has been estimated that 52% of the homes and buildings in the Houston metro area are at a “high” or “moderate” risk of flooding. These statistics may get worse as we go through these 2 hurricane disasters.

For people with flood damage it is important that they document their damage – written is ok, video and digital pics are preferred. They should file their claim as soon as they are able.

 WHAT DOES FLOOD INSURANCE COVER?
Flood insurance can cover both the building and contents…but like typical property insurance, it does not cover the land. Coverage for basements, crawl spaces, and lower floors may be limited.

The dwelling coverage can cover property up to $250,000 and contents up to $100,000 The flood policy does not give guaranteed replacement like some home insurance policies do. It will only pay up to the amount of insurance described on the declaration page.

Building coverage includes:

  • Building and Foundation
    The electrical and plumbing systems, major systems like central air conditioning equipment, furnaces, and the hot water heater
  • Som e appliances such as refrigerators, cooking stoves, and built-in appliances like dishwashers
  • Permanently installed carpeting over an unfinished floor
  • Window Blinds
  • Permanently installed paneling, wallboard, bookcases, and cabinets
  • A detached garage – up to 10% of the building coverage

Contents Coverage Includes:

  • Clothing, Furniture and Electronic equipment
  • Curtains
  • Portable and window air conditioners
  • Portable appliances such as microwaves and dishwashers
  • Carpeting that is not covered under the building coverage
  • Clothes washers and dryers
  • Food freezers and the food in them
  • Certain valuable items such as original artwork and turns – up to $2,500

WHAT DOESN’T THE FLOOD INSURANCE COVER?
there are a number of things that a flood insurance policy will not coverage including:

  • Currency, precious metals, and valuable papers like stock certificates
  • Damage caused by moisture, mildew, or mold that could have been prevented by the homeowner or renter
  • Property items outside of the dwelling such as trees, plants, wells, septic systems, walkways, decks, patios, fences, hot tubs, seawalls, and swimming pools
  • Financial losses due to business interruption or loss of use of the insured property
  • Most self=propelled vehicles – cars, motorcycles, four-wheelers, etc.
  • Damage from sewer backups unless there is a flood in the area and the flood is the proximate cause of the sewer or drain backup

YOU WANT TO FILE YOUR FLOOD CLAIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Individuals or businesses with a flood insurance policy should file a claim as quickly as they can if they sustain flood damage. Since there has been an official Presidential Disaster Declaration, homeowners may be eligible for assistance from other sources such as FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, or even some state or private organizations.

Residents who register for disaster assistance may be able to get help for temporary housing, funds for home repairs, and help with home replacement or permanent housing construction.

When you call to make your claim be sure to have your policy number, the name of the agent you bought the policy through, and your contact information. Give your cell, email, and where you can be reached regarding the claim. Keep careful notes about who you spoke with and what was said.

KEEP CAREFUL DOCUMENTATION

Make a list of your damaged items and if you can, include where and when they were purchased and their cost. Online vendors may be able to provide receipts for your purchases. If you have photos of items prior to the storm have them available for your claim adjuster.

Be sure to document any items that you have discarded, need to be disposed of, or placed outside of the home or office.

Keep all copies of estimates from contractors, any expert’s reports, or other documentation related to the cost of the claim. If your claim is denied or there are questions about coverage, having a record of what was lost or the cost to repair the damage will be helpful in appealing the decision.

Take pictures of large ticket replacement items that are purchased such as televisions, appliances as well as the receipts as proof of purchase. The more documentation you have, the easier it will be to substantiate your claim.

FINALLY, BEWARE OF FLY BY NIGHT CONTRACTORS

Sadly, there are many unscrupulous people who will take advantage of a disaster to fleece you of your money. Before engaging any contractor be sure to check them out. Ask for references and proof of insurance. Look for online reviews. Do they have a website? Do they have a FB page? Are they registered with the BBB? The old adage – “If it sounds too good to be true…it probably is” applies.

Be careful.

SEE ALL POSTS

Our experience was seamless working with eGoodwin Insurance!Very informative and helpful.
Niki Mazur
Niki Mazur
Thank you, Mark! 🙏 Your services make me feel spoiled rotten. You guys always take care of me! You are very thorough and do an amazing job. Even though we are miles away, I feel like we have meet a number of times. Thank you for the videos. They are helpful. I look forward to continuing our relationship as my business grows. You have been with me from the beginning, and I can't imagine working with anyone else.
Libya Binford
Libya Binford
Fine.
Lynn Allen
Lynn Allen
They are the nicest people. I’ve been working with them for years. I couldn’t imagine working with someone else. I would recommend them to anyone.
Donna K Morgan
Donna K Morgan
I have been a customer both personally and professionally for many years. I have had always prompt, personal service from Mark and Nikki. They are a great team and always ready to answer any questions I may have. Thanks for being there for me.
Vickie McClellan
Vickie McClellan
Love love love you guys!
bailey mohr
bailey mohr
I love eGoodwin. They are always so sweet and take care of me better than family. Quick and friendly service. Thank you eGoodwin!
Jenni Rico
Jenni Rico
The best insurance agency we’ve ever dealt with! They are always helpful and do their best to find us the most affordable rates. Thank you!!
Jennese Acker
Jennese Acker
Always prompt, always polite. Goes the extra mile!
Roni Saxby
Roni Saxby
I would prefer to not ever have any other insurance adjuster love Nikki!
bailey mohr
bailey mohr
Mark and his team have the best customer service! They are quick to respond and are looking out for your best interest!
Chris Gonzalez
Chris Gonzalez
Mark was lightening fast and responsive to what we needed. He checked multiple sources and found us the best policy from a value and coverage perspective.
Steve Moore
Steve Moore
I always receive a quick response and they search for the best prices
Paula Riggs
Paula Riggs
Love eGoodwin insurance agency. Nikki always goes above and beyond, whenever we call with a problem, or questions.
John Mcgee
John Mcgee
Mark, Nikki and the team at eGoodwin have always taken good care of us. They even contacted us when the insurance landscape changed, and now a different insurance company would be a better deal.We’ve been customers for somewhere around 20 years.
Don Milnor
Don Milnor
I recommend eGoodwin Insurance every day
Powell Chamber
Powell Chamber
Mark is always a pleasure to work with. He wasn't able to help with our very specialized insurance requirements but he was willing to look over our existing policies to make sure they were sufficient. I look forward to working with Mark again in the future.
TJ
TJ
I highly recommend Mark Goodwin!! He is so polite and expect only the best service from him!
Peace Olivia
Peace Olivia
Mark was a pleasure to work with. He responded quickly with any questions I had and was very thorough in determining what type of coverage I needed for my business. He made the whole process very easy!
Katie Petsch
Katie Petsch
Rates were fair and the staff is very responsive and informative. They are professional and friendly as well.I am starting up a new business and they have helped me quite a bit with business insurance requirements and certifications.
Howard Zuefle
Howard Zuefle
Amazing service!!
Patrick Meagher
Patrick Meagher
Friendly, fast, and helpful. Good people to do business with.
joetrama
joetrama
Great service with great attention to details. Worked with getting me exactly what I needed and at a great cost.
Brian Harp
Brian Harp
We went to Mark for a review of our business policies. He is so knowledgeable and answered all our questions. We ended up doing a review of our personal policies as well and found that we were overpaying and had gaps in our policies. Mark was able to find us comprehensive packages to meet all our needs and saved us money! If you haven't done a review of your insurance policies lately I would highly recommend you reach out to Mark. His whole team is so responsive, friendly and they made switching seamless.
Terri Bittner
Terri Bittner
They have been my agent for several years now. Alway dependable when I call to answer the phone and help with and questions I might have.
Tyler Brown
Tyler Brown
I've known Mark for so many years and have worked with him on insuring many facets: home, auto, business, etc. You'll always get a straight answer from him. Thanks Mark and eGoodwin!
Andy Noonan
Andy Noonan
Great agency with a great person at the helm. Mark Goodwin recently looked into my business insurance policy and quickly identified many holes in my coverage. He got me a great rate while getting me the coverage that I need to be protected. I sleep better at night knowing his agency has my back. Highly recommend!
Alex Ribble
Alex Ribble
Very professional and always very responsive to my requests and questions.
Manuel Pedrozo
Manuel Pedrozo
E Goodwin Insurance are very helpful with great rates. They have access to different insurance companies to get you the best deal instead of pushing just there companies products!
Ashmont Realty
Ashmont Realty
Mark Goodwin and his staff have in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry and provide trustworthy services. They always work in the best interest of their clients. You can rely on eGoodwin Insurance for ALL your insurance needs.
Adele Busch
Adele Busch
I know Mark from a business building network. I am very happy to recommend him as an extremely knowledgeable agent who gives great attention to detail.
Gloria Thomas
Gloria Thomas
Mark Goodwin goes over an above for us. How often does you insurance agent call you to check on the health and/or well being of your company "just because"? Highly recommend eGoodwin insurance.
Ken Cook
Ken Cook
Mark is very experienced and truly cares about his clients. I trust him and his team and would highly recommend eGoodwin Insurance to anyone I know!
Tingting Wu
Tingting Wu
I can't say enough wonderful things about Mark! We met thru the Powell Chamber of Commerce as Liberty Family Smiles just joined the Powell community. He was one of the first members to quickly make us feel welcomed and part of the group. This is a small business you'll want to get behind and support in the heart of downtown Powell #supportlocal
PeterRose VanGurp
PeterRose VanGurp
Amazing commitment and service!! Super kind and easy to work with! Very thankful for eGoodwin Insurance and all the time and effort they have invested for us!
Emlah Tubuo
Emlah Tubuo
Mark and his team provide great customer service and quick turnaround. Always a pleasure to deal with!
Trey Noonan
Trey Noonan
I am a mortgage banking professional and work very closely with Mark and his insurance agency. We share referrals...and I am more than happy to refer him to any and all of my clients as his and Nikki's customer service is second to none and their price quotes almost always come in with better coverage and lower premiums! 5 Star review for sure!
Marc Stock
Marc Stock
eGoodwin Insurance is terrific. Their customer service is outstanding. I recommend them to friends and family. I have known Mark a long time and not only is he a great insurance agent, he is a quality person as well. Highly recommended!
Dan Henson
Dan Henson
I have worked with Mark Goodwin and his company for years. Mark has always been polite, he is knowledgeable, and gets back to you promptly. Mark worked to get to know us, the particulars of our business and then worked with us to get the right coverage at the right price.
Ken Cook
Ken Cook
Got an easy no pressure quote and was amazed by the savings. The customer service that followed has been exceptional. Would highly recommend!
Andrew Dickerson
Andrew Dickerson
Excellent commitment to service. Highly recommend this agent and his agency.
Carol Sommer
Carol Sommer
Been with Goodwin insurance for many years and have always had good service
praveen giri
praveen giri
We have been working with Mark Goodwin from eGoodwin Insurance for decades. He and his staff have provided both our company and my family with reliable, affordable insurance coverage. He is conscientious and devoted to serving his Customers. I would highly recommend Mark Goodwin for both personal and business insurance.
Tim Peacock
Tim Peacock
Quick responses, very helpful, great customer service
Heather Williamson
Heather Williamson
Excellent staff. Mark Goodwin is a great guy and his staff, Nikki, is excellent as well. If Nikki misses a phone call she immediately calls you back when she's available and they are always willing to answer any questions. I have my auto, homeowners and business insurance with eGoodwin Insurance. Mark will do his best to get you a quote that works for your budget.
Kevin Bowyer
Kevin Bowyer
We've used eGoodwin for the business I work for the past couple of years and the willingness to answer questions and help with claims is always done quickly and professionally. The staff is very friendly as well and they found us the lowest rate out of any agency we inquired with.On a personal side, after a tree fell in my yard last year my home owner's insurance (that I did not get through eGoodwin) doubled. I called Mark, and he and Nikki were able to get me a new policy with better coverage and a lower premium than I had before the tree fell.I would (and have) highly recommend Mark and his staff for any insurance needs.
Doug MacClements
Doug MacClements
We have been with Egoodwin Insurance for over 10 years. Their customer service is impeccable and irreplaceable. During every life change, they have helped get us the best policies that fit our family. We have checked rates with other companies over the years, but have stayed with them because they simply get our family needs- we are not just a number. The staff tirelessly answer all of our questions about each policy change.
M Dowell
M Dowell
Been dealing with Mark and his crew for a long time now. Nikki is a very personable smile that is always willing to go above and beyond for the clients!.
Jesse Pennock
Jesse Pennock
Dear Mark,You and your staff work hard and we are proud of you!Love youMom and Dad
Paula Goodwin
Paula Goodwin
I am thoroughly pleased with eGoodwin Insurance Agency. I have only been a client for a short time and have had numerous calls from the office just checking in on me to make sure I'm well taken care of. Their customer service has been wonderful, the products they offer are top notch and I look forward to being a client in this agency for many years to come!!!
Darcy Hunley
Darcy Hunley

74 E. Olentangy Street | Powell, Ohio 43065

399 E. Church Street | Marion, Ohio 43302

(740) 387-8335