Bringing risk of flooding, hurricane season begins

Hurricane season begins Friday, and even areas not typically prone to flooding can be at risk.

When it comes to flood insurance claims, 30 percent are filed by homeowners who don’t live in high-risk zones.

Many people in the Delaware Valley learned this lesson during last year’s destructive storms, says AAA spokeswoman Jenny Robinson.

“We all remember Hurricane Irene last year, and a lot of people were caught unaware and caught unprepared because they didn’t have the right kind of insurance coverage,” she said.

One reason people tend to be unprepared is that they assume flood damage is covered under their homeowner’s policies. It’s not; it’s a separate service that must be arranged through the federal government.

If you are planning to get flood insurance, don’t wait till the weatherman says the storm is upon you. There’s a 30-day waiting period before policies go into effect.

For more information, check floodsmart.gov.