Flooding and your home

Flooding Happens – but It Isn’t Insured. What you need to know for your home and storage lockers.

Home Flooding – Know What to Do

Almost any part of Canada has experienced local flooding sometimes – maybe a stream overflows or area fire hydrant bursts. That includes self storage units. As we tell renters “Our motto is if it’s worth storing its worth insuring” However most contents insurance won’t cover floods. So, how can you protect yourself?

“Flood” is defined as water moving over land. Water from a fire hydrant or burst pipe would be covered, however rain, rising rivers etc. would not be.

How can you help prevent damage in case of a flood?

• Your home or rental insurance may offer flood coverage. Switch to that from storage insurance, but check that home insurance doesn’t have small-time limit like 90 days.
• Get items off the floor by using cheap wood pallets.
• Or make the bottom layer plastic tote boxes instead of paper boxes.
• Modify water valves. Install an exterior or interior back flow valve.

What can you do if the water starts rising?

• Clear gutters and drain valves
• Move furniture, rugs and anything else valuable to higher floors
• Shut off all electricity at the breaker panel
• Elevate major appliances onto blocks to prevent water damage.

Sometimes accidents happen, make sure you have the correct insurance.

Stop and Store can help you store any household items while your home is being repaired.