HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Sandbags, check. Windows boarded, check, Gutters cleared, check. But do you have flood insurance?
With the threat of a potential tropical storm looming over the Valley and a flood watch issued for all counties, it is important to protect your assets.
ValleyCentral spoke to an expert to find out if residents still have time to ensure their assets before this week's anticipated rainfall.
Derek Benavides, owner of TFWG Benavides Insurance, said the majority of companies have a 30-day wait period before granting flood insurance.
"It is never too late to get flood insurance ... but if there are people that are looking to get flood insurance for this impending storm, for that, it would be too late," Benavides said. "But, as far as prepping for the next storm, now is a great time to be getting it."
He said anytime a storm comes to the Gulf of Mexico between June and November, insurance companies shut down to brace for the storm and will begin selling again once the storm is over.
Benavides says markets like auto and home insurance have shut down in anticipation of the storm. While others like flood insurance, though it takes 30 days to go into effect, will remain open through the storms.
Insurance companies have this practice in place to avoid insurance buyers who invest in home or auto insurance only when there is an impending threat or crisis — then cancel the policy once the threat is gone.
Benavides clarified that home insurance does not cover in the event of a flood.
"Make sure that you are properly insured," he said. "If you do have a flood insurance policy, having a conversation with a licensed professional and insurance agent is extremely important. We don't want to have to wait until something happens to then have that conversation with the agent. You want to have those conversations ahead of time."
For more details on flood insurance visit the Texas Department of Insurance website at www.TDI.TEXAS.GOV/.
