Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 12, 1994 TAG: 9403120072
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF staff writer
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The flood of claims has been mostly for fallen trees and landscape damage - which generally is not covered by homeowner casualty policies - and spoiled food resulting from power losses.
Now the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is suggesting that property owners buy flood insurance because heavy sleet and snow during the winter boost the possibility of flooding this year.
"The ground is so moist right now, that if we have another good rainstorm - which is pretty likely, considering spring is right around the corner - the ground won't be able to hold any more," said Bill Kalberer, environmental program planner at the department. He said Southwest Virginia already has experienced some flooding and, before spring is over, other areas probably will be affected as well.
Structures need not be in a floodplain to be eligible for flood insurance under federal regulations.
"Flood damage is caused not only by the flooding of lakes and rivers," the department said, "but by storm-water runoff, erosion, cyclical high lake levels and some sewer backup situations as well."
General homeowner casualty insurance does not cover loss due to flooding. Special flood insurance is available, however, in communities, such as those in the Roanoke Valley, that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. Under this program, buildings and contents, both in and outside the designated natural floodplain, may be insured from flood loss.
The insurance can be bought through any agent in Virginia. There is a five-day waiting period between insurance purchase and the effective date of the coverage. Forms may be obtained by calling the National Flood Insurance Program at (800) 638-6620. Detailed information can be obtained by writing Region III, National Flood Insurance Program, Liberty Square Building, 105 South Seventh St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106.
Richard Parker, manager of Crittenden Adjustment Co. in Roanoke, said his office handled "quite a few claims" from the February and March ice storms that felled trees and power lines.
Damage to trees is not covered under most homeowner insurance policies, Parker said.
He told of one elderly woman who had nine fallen trees on her property. She could not afford the cost of clearing them, Parker said, yet removal of trees isn't covered by her insurance policy.
Homeowner policies, he said, generally cover damage to the house and other structures, such as garages, caused by falling trees.
Parker said fewer claims resulted from the second of the two ice storms, perhaps because most weak trees had already come down.
"We're covered up with claims," said a spokeswoman for Gay & Taylor, an adjusting company. She said the company received 90 claims, mostly from the New River Valley, for the Feb. 11 storm, and about half that number, mostly from Franklin County, for last week's storm.
Jim Bebber, manager of the Roanoke office of Crawford & Co., said it had an influx of claims from the storms. "We've had to work a little bit on Saturday," he said.
Kathy Hester of McDonough Caperton Insurance Group said it received a lot more claims than usual, but the damage was small.
D.H. Plymale, who handles claims for The Travelers Cos., said damage was heavy in places such as Harrisonburg, where 2 feet of snow caused structural crushing.
In the Roanoke area, he said, he had many claims for food spoilage and for removal of downed trees. Travelers' policies limit both categories of claims to $500.
He called the large number of small claims "blips on your monthly screen." But he said it was not disastrous.
by CNB