Consumer Affairs Reminds South Carolinians to Prepare for Hurricane Season

Hurricane Season 2009 begins today and Palmetto State residents know they live in a hurricane-prone area. Anyone remembering 1989’s Hurricane Hugo knows that more than coastal areas are at risk. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs offers residents these tips to prepare:

· Set up a disaster kit for your home. Stock up on non-perishable food and bottled water to help you and your family for up to 72 hours. Make sure you have important papers, first aid supplies, prescription medicines, and anything else you need on a daily basis in your kit.
o Make a similar kit for your car in case you need to evacuate.
o Don’t forget your pets’ needs! Pack what they need as well.

· Create an emergency plan. Know what to do if you have to evacuate. Make sure you know how to contact members of your family and have emergency contact information for someone living out of state who knows where you are in the event of an emergency.
o Make sure your pets are included in this plan.
o Offer assistance to an elderly or disabled family member of neighbor who may be alone and may need help during an emergency.

· Be informed. Know evacuation routes and listen to local authorities when asked to evacuate. Keep a weather radio, batteries, cell phone and charger handy!

· Know your risks. Whether you live in a coastal community or inland, review your insurance policies. Flooding can happen in any area after a natural disaster and most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.

The Department of Consumer Affairs has recently updated its Hurricane Preparedness Guide. Consumers wanting more information may call the public information division at 803.734.4296 or toll free in SC 1.800.922.1594, or online at www.scconsumer.gov.

South Carolina Homeowners and Businesses Should Consider Flood Insurance

No matter where in South Carolina you live, you may need flood insurance to help protect your home, business, family and financial security.

With hurricane season beginning June 1, and a 30-day waiting period required for flood insurance to take effect, now is the time for South Carolina homeowners and businesses to ensure they have adequate coverage.
Flooding is the nation’s number one natural disaster. Most home and business owners’ insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

South Carolina has seen a nearly 25 percent increase in the number of National Flood Insurance Program policies issued during the last three years. Potential driving factors include increased flood awareness since Hurricane Katrina, increased development in coastal high-risk flood areas and changes to flood maps that broaden the high-risk areas.

South Carolina has experienced flooding from many hurricanes and tropical storms during the last 20 years, including Hugo, Fran, Bonnie, Floyd, Charley, Gaston and Frances. Hurricanes can cause major flooding, sometimes hundreds of miles inland. Slow-moving tropical storms can bring torrential rains that saturate the ground and cause water buildup in low-lying areas.

According to the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, if you live in a moderate- to low-risk area for flooding and are eligible for a “Preferred Risk Policy”, your flood insurance premium might be as low as $119 per year, including coverage for your property’s contents. The national average premium for a flood policy is $544 a year. The average premium in South Carolina is $550. To determine your home’s risk and for pricing information, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

Many private insurance companies issue flood insurance under an arrangement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Insurance companies issue the policy under the company's name and handle claims using the rules, coverages and procedures specified by the NFIP.

Homeowners can buy up to $250,000 of coverage for the structure and up to $100,000 for your personal contents. Businesses can buy up to $500,000 in coverage for the structure and $500,000 in contents coverage. Some private insurance companies offer excess flood protection, which provides higher limits of coverage than the NFIP, in the event of catastrophic loss by flooding. Separate contents coverage is also available. Renters can buy protection for up to $100,000.

In order to determine how much insurance you need, download free home inventory software from the South Carolina Insurance News Service Web site at www.scinsurance.net or call 803-252-3455.