ReutersA flooded basement in Hoboken, N.J., after Hurricane Irene.

Bucks readers have raised questions about hurricane claims for water damage and for food that spoiled due to a loss of electricity.

Hurricane Irene is expected to be one of the costliest storms in history, according to an article in Wednesday’s paper. But insurance may not pay for much of the damage because so many homes lack flood coverage. Just 17 percent of homeowners nationally carry flood insurance, said Loretta Worters, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute.

Q. Does homeowners’ insurance typically cover damages from basement flooding that arises from a loss of power to the sump pumps?

A. Generally, no, although there are a handful of exceptions, Ms. Worters said. For instance, she said, a standard homeowner’s policy from Peerless Insurance may cover damage due to flooding that results specifically from a failed sump pump.

But in most cases, flood damage is excluded from standard homeowners’ policies. To have flood protection, you must buy a separate flood insurance policy. While you can buy these policies through your agent, the carrier in most cases is the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program.

The average flood insurance premium is about $600 a year, although costs in high-risk areas can be significantly higher, and premiums in low-risk areas lower, according to the flood insurance program. There’s usually a 30-day waiting period before coverage becomes effective after you buy it.

Even flood insurance doesn’t cover everything, however. There are often exclusions for damage to basements, Ms. Worters said. Typically, flood policies cover your foundation and mechanical equipment like furnaces and hot water heaters, as well as appliances like washers and dryers. But improvements to your basement, like finished walls and ceilings, and personal belongings you store there, aren’t covered, according to the flood insurance program.

You can find information about policy pricing here and read more background on the evolution of the flood insurance program here.

Q. Does insurance cover the loss of food in refrigerators/freezers due to extended power outages?

A. Yes, if the outage is storm-related, Ms. Worters said. Most homeowner policies include a set amount for food spoilage — typically, $250 to $500 per appliance. So if you have a refrigerator in your kitchen, and a deep freezer in your garage for stockpiling meat, you’d have $500 to $1,000 of coverage.

Article source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=110bbadd2afcfa35bfae99027831add0