Homes Flood Insurance in Texas | Lubbock Insurance | Hettler Insurance Agency, Lubbock Texas

When Is Flood Insurance Needed?

Flood Insurance for Texans

Flooding is commonly excluded from many homeowners, commercial property, and renters’ insurance policies. Although these policies cover most natural disasters: floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes (at least from water damage) are typically excluded, due to their severity and rarity.

Most areas of flooding, naturally occur on the coastlines. Regardless of your view on climate change, flooding has increased in Texas in recent years. Texas has 367 miles of exposed coastline ranking sixth for all U.S. states. For Texas communities such as Corpus Christi, Angleton, Port Arthur, Galveston, Houston, Texas and surrounding cities and suburbs, heed a strong recommendation for flood insurance, as hurricane risks are imminent.

Floods are also more likely to occur in drought areas, which caused flash floods in Central and West Texas throughout 2015 and 2016. It sounds ironic, yet when water-scarce areas of the state receive water, it’s often too much at once for the ground to soak up. According to Drought Monitor, there is a greater risk of flash foods if you live in the panhandle and far West Texas/Permian Basin.

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Flood Protection Coverage

Although flood insurance covers damage from most scenarios of rising water, flood insurance has exclusions and should be paired with a comprehensive homeowners or commercial property policy. Flooding from appliances, such as a toilet overflow or broken sump pump, are typically covered in homeowners and renters policies. Storms that remove a roof, only to allow rainwater to enter the house would also be covered in most homeowners policies. Coverage is also limited for basements and mold-causing claims, these typically aren’t covered by flood insurance.

It’s always wise to confirm what types of water damage are covered in your flood insurance policy, as well as homeowners, renters or commercial property policies.

Flooded Neighborhood | Flood Insurance Texas | Hettler Insurance Agency, Lubbock Texas

Types of Flood Insurance

Flood insurance is unique from other types in how it’s sold and purchased. There are three types of flood insurance, two types (WYO and Government) use the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for coverage. The difference is in how the policies are obtained and written, while private is an alternative to coverage through the government.

Just like health insurance, you can visit a government website to purchase coverage. In this case it’s floodsmart.gov; add your zip code or view the map to see the risk zone of your property. From there, you can purchase directly from the government or a licensed agent.

The government offers insurance for floods through the National Flood Insurance Program. In health insurance, subsidized healthcare is through the government if your income is below a predetermined amount. To receive subsidized flood insurance, you would need to be located in a high-risk flood zone.

The reason for the Federal Government underwriting losses in the first place, is similar to health insurance. It makes it more affordable and allows for better prevention of flood losses by working directly with communities.

Although the Federal Government is responsible for underwriting losses, in 1983 they allowed for insurance carriers to resell flood insurance, the same flood insurance provided by the Federal Government. However, there are benefits to going through an insurance company vs. the government for the same policy.

— Superior Customer Service
— Expertise of agents that understand flood insurance
— Potential discounts from combining umbrella, flood, and homeowners policies from the same carrier
— Free flood maps and risk assessments

For this reason, Hettler Insurance Agency uses the American Bankers Insurance Company, which is a “write-your-own” flood insurance company.

Like health insurance, there are options for private flood insurance and there are several benefits to private flood insurance vs. the government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

In 2013, drastic hikes to NFIP rates took affect for many policy holders in high risk zones. As of 2014, the NFIP is in debt of $24 Billion, after Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy drained the program. Policy holders did experience premium hikes in the months following these disasters, although last year, President Obama did sign legislation to make government flood insurance more stable.

Higher premiums are often cited as a reason not to get private flood insurance, but in recent years, these premiums are comparable to the federal program, but it really depends on where you are located. As of 2015, there were only a handful of private flood insurance options available to Texans. Lloyd’s of London, one of the largest insurance carriers in the world underwrites flood insurance through The Flood Insurance Agency, a Florida based company.

However, consult with your insurance agent before considering flood insurance through private or government programs. Federally backed mortgages often require NFIP flood insurance, not allowing for private flood insurance policies.

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Vehicle Insurance

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– Auto Insurance – We insure thousands of cars, trucks, vans, and commercial vehicles used in all types of businesses.
– Motorcycle Insurance – Start your Motorcycle riding experience with insurance through Hettler.
– ATV and Motorsport Insurance – Does it have a key? Is it a dirt bike? We have a program to cover it.
– Classic Car Insurance – Classics and antique vehicles require special coverages. We represent a couple of different carriers to cover them.
– RV and Mobile Home Insurance – Big values traveling down the road? No problem. We handle the big risks all the time.
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Property Insurance

Insurance protection for the property that matters most to you.

– Homeowners Insurance – Your home is your castle. Protect your most valuable asset with quality coverage.
– Condo Insurance – Condos are a little different. Call us to get your specialized coverage!
– Renters Insurance – Fires in apartments and rental homes are way too common. Renter’s coverage is really reasonably priced.
– Landlord Protection ™ – Renting your home? Protect yourself with landlord insurance.
– Flood Insurance – You have to have a separate policy to cover flood… It can happen even here in the desert.
– Storm & Hail Insurance – Texas has had thirty-six $100,000,000 or larger disasters from severe storms in the past 25 years and more than 80% of the time, hail was to blame for the damage.
– Earthquake Insurance – Earthquakes have occurred in 39 states since 1900, and about 90% of Americans live in areas considered seismically active. Most home insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage. Good news, earthquake insurance can be inexpensive.

Commercial & Business Insurance

Coverage that helps protect your business

– Business Owners Policy (BOP) – Lubbock County is in the top 10 for commercial property damage due to wind, hail and dust storms; and the top 10 for commercial auto comprehensive claims due to weather; and the top 10 for lightning storm damage.
– General Liability Insurance (GL) – Insurance coverage for when you or your products hurt someone or damage property.
– Commercial Property Insurance – Coverage against Fire, Wind, Hail, and many other perils.
– Business Auto Insurance – Cover your business with insurance for commercial and business vehicles.
– Commercial Liability Insurance – also known as “general liability insurance” is a broad policy that covers a number of liability exposures of a business. Business liability insurance is often the first line of defense against lawsuits from customers, allowing an owner to protect both personal and business assets.
– Commercial Umbrella Insurance – Insurance coverage that gives an extra layer of liability protection from the rising costs of lawsuits.
– Workers’ Compensation Insurance (workers comp) – Medical bills and lost income Insurance coverage that helps you take care of injured employees.
– Cyber Security Insurance – In an era of leaked embarrassing online photos, confidential emails and digitally internet connected employees and customers, it’s no wonder businesses (of all sizes) are rushing to cover themselves with cyber liability insurance.
– Surety Bonds – Get your notary bond, your contractor’s bond, your bid bond, or your performance bond from Hettler Insurance Agency.
– Contractor’s Insurance – Many contractors operate out of the home and may not require commercial property insurance. Instead, contractors typically perform work at the customer’s location. This can be a residential home, a construction site or a commercial property.
– Builder’s Insurance – With a good Builder’s Risk policy, the structure, materials and equipment are protected from theft, vandalism and weather damage during the construction phase.

Life/Health Insurance

Insurance protection for your family’s health.

– Health Insurance – Insurance for you, your family, and your pocketbook. Uncovered medical costs can bankrupt you.
– Personal Umbrella Insurance – An umbrella policy provides additional layers of liability protection. If the liability limits are exhausted on your home, auto, or other underlying insurance policy, your umbrella insurance policy takes over and provides you with additional protection. You may need this in case of a car wreck involving a fatality, etc. For a minimal cost, you can protect your assets, and your future earnings.
– Whole Life Insurance – Life insurance coverage designed to be there for your whole life.
– Term Life Insurance – Insurance protection to help keep your family secure for a specific period of time.