Protect Yourself, Your Family, Belongings and Business from Mudflow
Periods of heavy rainfall have been predicted for winter. Beyond flooding dangers, heavy rainfall often leads to mudflow – a river of mud – and landslides caused by destabilized land shifting due to gradual erosion or sudden accumulation of water.
Mudflows can be as dangerous and costly as mudslides. Mudslides occur when a mass of earth or rock moves downhill, propelled by gravity. There’s usually not enough liquid in a mudslide to seep into your home, so they aren’t eligible for flood insurance coverage.
Mudflow and landslides require different types of coverage – I can help you establish what type of coverage you may need to protect against a loss from either event.
You can get both home and business insurance coverage for mudflow
Mudflow is covered by flood insurance available from FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and some private insurance carriers. Like flood, however, mudflow is excluded from standard homeowners and business insurance policies – you have to buy the coverage separately.
FEMA’s flood insurance is available for homeowners, renters and business owners. Policies cover overflow of inland or tidal waters and unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source. NFIP flood policies can be purchased directly from the federal government or through FEMA-authorized insurance companies and agents.
Home and business insurance coverage for landslides is not the same as for mudflow
A landslides is considered an “earth movement” event so, like an earthquake, it is excluded from standard homeowners and business insurance policies. You can buy a “Difference in Conditions” policy (which typically offers all-in-one coverage for landslides, mudflows, earthquakes, and floods). I can help you find a Difference in Conditions policy – sold by surplus lines insurers – that you need.
An earthquake insurance policy will not cover home or business for landslides
Earthquakes, like landslides, involve earth movement, so a separate earthquake policy is needed for quake-caused property damage because the causes of the movement are different. Landslides are caused by erosion or water accumulation that destabilizes the land, while earthquakes are caused by seismic activity. Earthquake insurance is available from private insurance carriers for renters, homeowners and business owners. In California, it is also available from the California Earthquake Authority. Ask me for more details.
Your auto insurance policy can provide coverage for mudflow and landslides
Provided that you bought optional comprehensive coverage with your auto insurance policy. More than seven out of every 10 U.S. drivers choose to buy comprehensive coverage. Under comprehensive insurance, flood and earthquake-caused damage to your car will also be covered.
If you have questions, or would like to discuss your insurance options, as well as your personal insurance needs, feel free to call me at (530) 665-4119 or email me at aromo@vanbeurden.com.
Data courtesy of the Insurance Information Institute
