Floods have the potential to be extremely dangerous and damaging, as those of us in Kentucky have recently witnessed and/or experienced. The heavy rainfall (on top of already saturated ground) resulted in significant flooding in central and eastern sections of our Commonwealth. These Kentucky floods endangered lives, damaged personal property, and washed away roads. It brought much of the state to a standstill.
After wildfires, floods are the most widespread of all-natural disasters. Approximately 90% of all U.S. natural disasters (as officially declared by the President of the United States) include some degree of flooding. Within the last five years, all 50 states have experienced flooding or flash flooding.
Remember that it is absolutely crucial to know exactly what your insurance policy covers and what it does not cover, before you need it. Normally flood coverage is written as a separate policy, however it is extremely important to know what coverage you have, and get the coverage you think you may need in the future.
After the flood (or other disaster) we recommend you contact your insurance carrier to ask specifically about flood coverage or any other provisions that would assist in recovery if you experienced any damage.
A total of 71 counties were officially declared a disaster after the flooding across the state this year in early 2021. Some of the hardest counties hit were in the eastern part of Kentucky: Estill, Lee, Owsley, Breathitt, Powell, Jackson, Clay and Johnson counties.
It is reported that Gov. Beshear is seeking federal aid to assist families and individuals with recovery after the recent flooding and is requesting assistance from FEMA for the state and the impacted individuals in Kentucky.
If you have suffered damages from a natural disaster like flooding, we recommend checking with your all your insurance carriers and with the resources below to determine what options may be available to you for disaster relief and help you with recovery.