For years, consumers had only one option when it came to flood insurance: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). As you may know, the NFIP has a $250,000 limit on covering damage to the main home structure, which can pose a problem if your client is facing more expensive repairs. Private flood insurance solutions offer more options, which is especially important as you work to support your clients to prepare for a potential flooding event.
 
Both agents and clients may forget to put flood risks on their radar, although statistically speaking, this should be a top priority. We don’t often question taking precautions against a fire in our homes. It’s a given that we install smoke detectors and strategically place fire extinguishers. However, according to the National Weather Service, floods are four times more likely to occur than fires.
 
When seeking to protect themselves against a flood, your clients with swimming pools will likely want coverage that includes this prized feature of their home. With private flood insurance, your clients can get support through costly pool cleanups after catastrophic events. Together, you can tailor a flood insurance policy that addresses the specifics of their property.

 

Is Private Flood Insurance a better option for homes with pools?

The NFIP does not cover swimming pools. In the event of a flood, this could become yet one more item on the list of damages your client needs to address. Every year they continue with NFIP coverage, they risk having to pay thousands out of pocket to clean and remediate their pools.
 
Pool cleanups and repairs can be as costly as they are complicated:

1. Draining a pool

If the pool is damaged or contaminated to the point that you have to drain it for repair, it’s not as simple as just pumping the water out. Draining the pool can cause the floor of the pool to shift and even rise from the ground in what’s known as Inground Pool Pop Up. The soil underneath has adjusted to thousands of pounds of water pressing down on the swimming pool floor. Remove that weight, and the ground can start moving with devastating effects on your concrete or pool liner.

2. Flooded electrical equipment

Water plus electricity – need we say more? When the electrical equipment required to run a swimming pool gets wet, your client can’t just wait for it to dry out and plug it back in. Damage may have occurred when water seeped into the pump motor or breaker box, and a licensed electrician may need to evaluate what can be repaired or what needs to be replaced.

3. Pump Damage

After clearing major debris from the pool, particulate matter may remain that can damage the pump system. The filter will get a workout to remove dirt, dust, and sand deposited by the storm. Your client will need to clean and/or replace the filter, perhaps several times, before their pool is restored to its former crystal-clear condition.

4. Chemical and Biological Contamination

Flood waters can bring more than dirt into a swimming pool. Water coming off of landscaping or a rooftop can carry all sorts of organic contaminants that lead to a surge in insect, bacteria or algae growth. Your client may need more than the usual cocktail of chlorine or other chemicals to remediate the pool water. And those chemicals can pose their own danger. If flood waters compromised where those chemicals are kept, your client could be at risk for dangerous chemical reactions in their pool shed. Those chemicals may also leak into the pool in uncontrolled amounts.
 
Dealing with any of these post-storm pool hazards can rack up costs quickly, let alone if your clients are wrestling with a combination of flood factors. With private flood insurance, consumers have the option of covering their pools. For example, with EZ Flood^®, your clients can opt for coverage that includes $1,000 of swimming pool clean-up.
 
If your clients have built their dream home, they should consider protecting it – every part of it – with flood coverage for their swimming pool.
 

How is private flood insurance different than the NFIP?

There are many differences between FEMA’s NFIP insurance and what private flood insurance from EZ Flood offers, but one key takeaway is that with EZ Flood you can customize flood insurance coverage limits and deductible options.
 
That means:

• You can offer building limit coverage beyond the NFIP maximum. The average home price in 2021 was $408,000¹, but NFIP only covers up to $250,000. With EZ Flood, your clients may be able cover what their homes are actually worth.

• You can offer flexible deduction options. Every client is different, so it’s important to be able to adapt each plan around their unique needs.

• You can help cover swimming pool clean-up. With EZ Flood, your clients can opt for coverage that offers coverage for pools.

 

Learn more about EZ Flood^®

You can learn more about how to offer more comprehensive, more customized flood insurance to your clients in this video:

 

Discover how easy it is to quote EZ Flood Insurance for your clients:

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We’re excited to help you adapt to these evolving changes and new landscapes, and urge you to get in touch with questions.

_{This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to provide individualized advice. All descriptions, summaries or highlights of coverage are for general informational purposes only and do not amend, alter or modify the actual terms or conditions of any insurance policy. Coverage is governed only by the terms and conditions of the relevant policy.}