February 8, 2011

GOVERNOR MALLOY: PLAN NOW FOR PROTECTING PROPERTY IN THE EVENT OF SPRING FLOODING

Flood Insurance Carries 30-day Waiting Period

(HARTFORD, CT) - As the winter of 2011 continues to take its toll on homes and businesses around Connecticut, Governor Dannel P. Malloy is reminding property owners that the spring of 2011 could be just as potentially damaging, particularly for those property owners who live in areas where flooding poses a real threat. The Governor is once again reminding property owners that there is a 30-day waiting period for federal flood insurance from time of purchase before the policy goes into effect.

"We only have to look as far back as last March to realize the potential risks that lie ahead. The record heavy rainfall and damaging storms in eastern and southeastern Connecticut caused widespread flooding damage and upended lives and livelihoods for months," Governor Malloy said. "It just makes sense to plan now to help protect personal property for this coming spring once this record snowpack thaws and causes local rivers and streams to significantly rise."

Standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding. Flood insurance is a special policy that is federally backed by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and is available for homeowners, businesses and renters. Flood insurance covers direct physical loss caused by a "flood," simply defined as an excess of water on land that is normally dry. Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) officials recommend that property owners consult with their agents to determine if flood insurance is warranted for their individual situations or call the NFIP at 888-435-6637.

The NFIP recognizes midwinter thaw or snowmelt as one potential source of damaging floods because it can produce a large amount of water in a short period of time. Because the ground is hard and frozen, water cannot be reabsorbed and consequently runs off the surface and flows into lakes, streams and rivers, causing excess water to spill over their banks.

Here's the official definition used by the National Flood Insurance Program:

• A flood is "A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is your property) from:
• Overflow of inland or tidal waters;
• Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source;
• Mudflow, which is defined as "A river of liquid and flowing mud on the surfaces of normally dry land areas, as when earth is carried by a current of water…"
• Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined above."
• Mudflow is defined as "A river of liquid and flowing mud on the surfaces of normally dry land areas, as when earth is carried by a current of water…"
• For more information on flood insurance: www.floodsmart.gov or call 888-435-6637

For any questions on insurance issues call the Connecticut Insurance Department at 800-203-3447 or visit www.ct.gov/cid .

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For Immediate Release: February 8, 2011

Contact: Juliet Manalan

Twitter: @GovMalloyOffice

Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy