Sunday, July 14, 2013

If you own a Business you need Flood Insurance even if you think you do not

I found out in 2004 even living 1200 foot above sea level you can have flooding in your basement .
After Hurricane Ivan left 3 inches in my basement luckily nothing valuable got damaged  and it took a while to clean up but I learned my lesson  when drains could not handle the water and now store everything up from the floor.
How ever one of my customers a High End Furniture Store was not so lucky and had a Million dollar inventory of exclusive furniture brands either destroyed or water damaged when severe storms hit the south hills of Pittsburgh This week.. They where able to save some things to resell at a loss but the big problem now is with there insurance company who does not want to cover anything saying even thou floor drains backed up it was an act of god because it happened during a horrific storm so its flooding because the underground creek tunnel near there store would not allow the storm waters to go down because it was full.  Sorry thats not the way there policy reads so they are going to have to sue them like they did last to get to get coverage. In mean time they are left with cleaning up a soggy mess and covering all costs till they prevail. there insurer is even fighting them on the business interruption insurance they had as well .  Having to deal with the total scum so called Restoration contractors who prey on flood victims is another problem as well while trying to clean up there just as bad if not worse than dealing with insurance company some do there job right most just rip you off just adding to the misery. For the most part in my opinion insurance company are the scum of the earth except for a couple of stand outs who take care of there policy holders. Then again there smaller company's who do not spend millions on advertising.
This is why it is imperative you purchase flood insurance if you are any where near a water source that can flood into your business or home for that matter  because otherwise your insurance carrier is going to try and wiggle its way out of covering you claiming act of god or its flooding not backed up sewage etc.
Even for business the insurance is affordable but there are some areas who can not get it . even if they do want it and have the choice always live with chance of flooding and deal with it or move.


Below are general pictures of flooding  that happened on 7.10.2013 in bridgeville are along Chartiers Creek  and Mayview & Boyce Roads I passed  while traveling to assist my customer.


a normal babbling creek now a raging torrent still 2 days after storms

wood and debris brought down when creek flooded road


Yes thats an actual gazebo which flowed down the creek




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