It’s the number one natural disaster. Flooding can have a devastating impact on your household or business. Standing water inside your house will ruin valuable items such as furniture, walls, flooring, appliances, family pictures and personal documents. Even a single inch of standing water in your house can cause $8,000 or more in damages.

Recently, flooding has become a major issue in the Second Congressional District of Kansas. It is the goal of Representative Nancy Boyda and her team to help flood victims return to their normal lives. Congresswoman Boyda has traveled extensively throughout the district assisting families and business owners who have been affected by rising waters. In addition to helping those who have already been impacted by nature’s fury, we have gathered information that can help you avoid future financial losses that occur due to flooding.

The best way to prepare for a flood is to purchase a flood insurance policy. When you apply for flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the financial burden of flooding will be taken care of. You can purchase this insurance whether you live in a high-risk or a low-risk area. The insurance will even cover damage caused by flooding to your basement foundation and utility equipment such as furnaces, water heaters, washers and dryers, electrical junctions and circuit breaker boxes.

Before you dismiss the thought of flood insurance there are a few things we would like you to know. First, you do not have to live in what is considered a flood zone to carry flood insurance. Everyone lives in a potential flood zone. Floods can be caused by things other than rainstorms – such as melting snow, water backup from inadequate or overloaded drainage systems, and dam or levee failure. All of which can happen outside of a flood plain. In fact, the National Flood Insurance Program says 25 to 30 percent of their claims come from outside flood plains.

Unfortunately your homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood damage. There is such a thing as Federal Disaster Assistance. However, there are giant hoops to jump through before you can receive assistance. First, the area must be declared a federal disaster by the president. Then there is extensive paperwork. The most typical form of disaster assistance is a loan that must be repaid with interest. This service is only awarded to about 50 percent of the people who apply for the assistance.

Flood insurance can be quite affordable. The average cost is around $400 a year ($34 a month) for $100,000 of coverage. A less expensive $50,000 policy costs around $180. In comparison, a $50,000 disaster home loan can cost you about $240 a month at four percent interest over 20 years.

While flood insurance is backed by the federal government, you can usually obtain flood insurance coverage through the same agent who wrote your home insurance policy.

This advice cannot alleviate the emotional hardships of a natural disaster. However, we hope that by being informed, more people will be able to evade the financial hardships of a flood. For more information on the National Flood Insurance Program, your flood risk, preparation and recovery, suggested questions to ask your insurance agent or finding an agent, click on this link:   (http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/)

And remember, if at any point you need assistance throughout the complicated process of putting your life back together following a disaster, the offices of Congresswoman Nancy Boyda are here for you.