Flooding vs. Other Water Damage

4/10/2020 (Permalink)

Storm damage after tear out in Rockford, MN

Flood damage to your Rockford, MN, business can be a major problem. However, insurance companies and their clients often have different ideas about what constitutes flooding.

Types of Water Damage

Although insurance companies are very specific about the definition of flooding, there are several ways your building can incur water damage. The following are three types of damages that can lead to inundation:

1. Storm damage
   
2. Water damage
   
3. Flood damage
   
   

Storms can damage roofs, burst pipes, break windows and cause other issues that allow water to enter the building. If storm damage leads to water incursion, most property owners' policies will cover this. Also if the building floods because of a burst pipe, the insurance company will classify that as water damage rather than flooding. That also goes for other common water-related issues, including malfunctioning appliances and many roof leaks. However, if your building is involved in a flood, as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, you must have flood insurance to be covered. Floods are defined as water covering at least two acres or two separate properties. Additionally, the water must come from one of the following sources: mudflow, surface water runoff or overflow of inland or tidal water (due to heavy rainfall or erosion). If the damage is classified as flood-related, standard property owners' insurance will not cover it.

Water Damage Restoration Process

Regardless of the cause of the water damage, it is important to get your property cleaned up as soon as possible to prevent mold growth. First, remove the standing water. There are specialized pumps and vacuums for this. Then dry out the remaining water. You may need to use fans or dehumidifiers. Next, sanitize all affected items. Everything that cannot be fully cleaned and dried should be thrown away. Finally, restore or replace all damaged items.
Just as there are a variety of causes for water and flood damage, there are different specifications for cleaning up afterward. An experienced restoration service can help you get your business back to normal quickly and safely.