If you have flood insurance, your agent will provide instructions for filing claims. Filing information is also available through the Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at:

http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/factsheets/fileflooInfoSht.htm.

If you do not have flood insurance, help may be available from the federal government or charitable non-profit organizations such as the American Red Cross. Register for federal assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Move quickly to clean and disinfect.
This is important from a health standpoint as well as from an insurance standpoint. Flood insurance covers damage caused by rising water; as of December 31, 2000, it does not cover “water, moisture, mildew, or mold damage caused by the policyholder's failure to inspect and maintain the insured property after the flood waters recede.” Be sure to open wall cavities, remove wetted insulation and expose all spaces where floodwater and moisture may be trapped.

Protect your termiticide while cleaning exterior walls.
Many soil termiticides are acidic. Basic compounds, including bleach cleansers, will break them down. Bleach cleansers used to clean the sides of houses can drop to the treated soil around the foundation and break down the termiticide, providing a way for termites to enter the house. Before applying the cleansers, tape a plastic sheet to the base of the house and extend it over the ground a couple of feet. This will keep the bleach away from the treated soil.

Termiticides bind to the soil and should not have washed out of the soil during the flood; retreatment may be necessary if floodwater deposited new soil above your treated soil or treated soil was washed away.

Don’t be in a hurry to get “back to normal.”
When it comes to southern houses, money is not the root of all evil – moisture is. Allow the house to dry thoroughly before replacing wallboard, cabinets, flooring and other items that trap moisture in concealed places. Excess moisture encourages mold growth, which can result in structural decay and health hazards. Expect to live in disarray for several weeks. Use air conditioning (auto setting), and consider a dehumidifier to speed drying by removing moisture from the air. Be sure the drain line for the drip pan under your air conditioner is flowing freely.

Does your flood insurance cover personal belongings?
As you’re deciding whether to try to salvage or discard certain personal belongings, and if the prospect of replacement by insurance is a factor in that decision, check to be sure you purchased contents coverage. Unlike homeowners’ insurance, contents insurance is not automatically added to the building policy. Building coverage and contents coverage are purchased separately. If you purchased flood insurance because your mortgage company “made” you, and you bought only the required amount, you probably do not have insurance on your contents. Look at your policy statement or ask your agent. And remember, contents coverage is provided on a depreciated value basis, not at replacement cost.

Insurance Factoid – Carpet is covered under Building coverage if it is permanently installed over an unfinished floor. Carpet is covered as Contents if it is either not permanently installed or permanently installed over a finished floor.

Read the flood policy
If you can’t find your copy, download it from FEMA’s Web site at http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/sfip.shtm. The abbreviations in the address stand for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Standard Flood Insurance Policies, respectively. The NFIP policy is a national policy – exactly the same in every state and community; however, policy language and rates change periodically.

Insurance coverage for raising your house.
The NFIP policy includes a coverage called Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC), which will cover up to $30,000 toward the cost of elevating, relocating or demolishing a residential structure. This coverage applies to buildings that are substantially damaged by the flood, meaning the cost of restoring the structure to its pre-flooded condition is 50% or more of the market value of the structure before it flooded. The ICC coverage can be accessed only in the Special Flood Hazard Area (commonly called the flood zone); the property may have been designated as SFHA after the flood event for which a claim is being made. The coverage is also available for non-residential structures and can be used to dry floodproof those buildings.

If you think you may qualify, ask your agent about it. Since this money is an insurance claim payment, it is considered non-federal and can be used to match funds for a federally funded elevation/relocation project that your community might sponsor.