Muddy distinctions
The rainy season began with an ominous start on Christmas Day as storms unleashed deadly flash floods that coursed through fire-ravaged San Bernardino Mountains destroying homes in their path. It’s a good time to review what water damage a standard homeowners insurance policy covers, or more importantly what it does not. Most standard policies protect only against rain and wind damage and burst or frozen pipes. They do not cover flooding, mudflows and landslides or mudslides.
Flood insurance can be purchased from the National Flood Insurance Program through an agent. Coverage includes mudflows but not landslides or mudslides. There is a 30-day wait before coverage takes effect.
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Type: Flooding
Description: A temporary inundation of normally dry land areas from overflow inland or tidal waters, or unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any surface.
Insurance coverage: National Flood Insurance Program
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Type: Mudflow
Description: A flooding condition where in which a river of liquid and flowing mud is on the surface of normally dry areas as when earth carried by current of water. This usually happens when heavy rains fall on land without adequate surface vegetation.
Insurance coverage: National Flood Insurance Program
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Type: Landslide/mudslide
Description: A dry or wet mass of earth or rock moves downhill. Though flood may trigger, damage is caused by falling mass of rock or earth, not water.
Insurance coverage: Not covered by flood insurance or standard homeowners policy.
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Sources: The Insurance Information Network of California; FEMA