Does My Business Need Commercial Flood Insurance?
A lot of business owners assume that their WA property insurance will cover the damages that are associated with a flood; but many are surprised to find that their policy doesn’t cover flooding. That’s because the majority of commercial property insurance policies excluding flooding from coverage.
A “flood” is generally defined as “a temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is your property) from:
- overflow of inland or tidal waters, or…
- unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source, or…
- mudflow or collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves, or…
- currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined above.
You’ll want to seriously consider getting a Washington commercial flood insurance policy if:
- Your business is located in an area in WA that is prone to flooding, or it is situated near any body of water.
- You operate a business in a location that has cold and snowy winters and warm springs. That’s because snow that melts quickly is one of the main reasons why businesses flood.
- Your business is situated in a climate that receives a moderate amount of rainfall throughout the year. There is always a chance that outdoor drains could clog, and if that happens, the likelihood that your establishment will flood is high.
What Does Washington Commercial Flood Insurance Cover?
Flood insurance for your company protects one of your most important investments from the damages that flooding can cause: Your business. With this type of insurance, you and your business are protected from the devastating financial losses that can occur with when a flood strikes. Not only does this insurance protect the building your business is located in, but it also protects the items inside your business and your assets.
A commercial flood insurance policy will pay for any repairs that your building may need in the event of a flood. It can also cover the cost of replacing the contents of your building. If mold or mildew forms as a result of flooding, your policy can also pay to remediate it.
Business flood insurance can either be purchased from an insurance agent, or you can buy a policy from a company that takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program. You also have the option to rely on special flooding programs that are offered by the government. It is in your best interest to purchase a policy through an agent, as you will be able to ensure you have adequate coverage for your business.
There are two different types of commercial flood insurance available, and you can choose to purchase one or both options.
- Contents Insurance. This type of insurance covers any inventory, merchandise, equipment, furnishings and other elements that are located inside your business.
- Building Insurance. This type of policy protects your building. If you do not own the building, you can purchase insurance that will cover the value of any improvements that you made to it.
Both of these types of insurance cover up to $500,000 in damages. However, you do have the ability to purchase an excess Washington commercial flood policy, which will grant more coverage. If your business is valued at more than $500,000, it’s a wise idea to purchase additional coverage.
What Washington Commercial Flood Insurance Doesn’t Cover
WA business flood insurance typically does not cover:
- Precious metals
- Stock certificates
- Bearer bonds
- Cash
- Trees & plants
- Wells & Septic systems
- Walkways
- Decks
- Patios
- Fences
- Retaining walls
- Storm shelters
- Loss of income
- Vehicles
- Post-flood mold damage
- Sewer backups
How Much Does Washington Commercial Flood Insurance Cost?
How much does Washington commercial flood insurance cost? This is the question most on WA business owners mind when they are shopping for a flood policy. Because Washington flood insurance is not a one size fits all, and there are many factors that are taken into consideration in your premiums – the easiest way to get flood insurance rates is to contact an agent to discuss your situation. Then you can get an accurate flood insurance quote to see the cost.
Below are some of the main factors that make up the cost of a WA business flood insurance policy:
- Your property’s flood risk – what flood zone you are in. More risk = higher premiums, less risk = lower premiums.
- How much coverage you need. More coverage = higher premiums, less coverage = lower premiums.
You can look up your flood zone at:
FEMA Flood Map Service Center: Search By Address. You can also learn about flood insurance requirements for commercial property.
Further Reading On Flood Insurance
Floods can happen suddenly and can do tremendous amounts of damage. Following is some more useful information about flood insurance polices:
WA Commercial Flood Insurance Quotes
Request a Washington Commercial Flood Insurance quote in Auburn, Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Bellingham, Bothell, Bremerton, Burien, Camas, Des Moines, Edmonds, Everett, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kennewick, Kent, Kirkland, Lacey, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Longview, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Marysville, Mercer Island, Moses Lake, Mount Vernon, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Oak Harbor, Olympia, Pasco, Port Angeles, Pullman, Puyallup, Redmond, Renton, Richland, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Shoreline, Spokane Valley, Spokane, Tacoma, Tukwila, University Place, Vancouver, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Yakima and all other cities in WA.
Washington Insurance Rules & Regulations
In Washington State, there are certain types of insurance that you should be aware of. We will be covering the limits and regulations of insurance within the state. You should be aware of these because if you operate a business, there may be certain types of insurance that you are required to carry. In addition, even if you do not have a business, there may be certain types of insurance regulations that you should familiarize yourself with. We will be taking a close look at insurance regulations for both personal and commercial here.
WA Commercial Insurance
For business liability insurance, what you should be aware of is that Washington does not require businesses to carry business liability insurance in order to operate. Washington is a pure comparative fault state which means that an insurance adjuster must first assess fault and name the adjuster or a court will reduce the award proportionate to the fault of the plaintiff. Businesses may carry business liability insurance in order to protect themselves against these types of claims.
However, Washington does require anyone who employs at least one person full-time or part-time to carry Worker's Compensation insurance to protect them if they are injured on the job. Washington does not require any type of disability insurance for businesses nor do they require commercial vehicles to carry commercial auto insurance.
Washington Personal Insurance
There are two types of personal insurance that you should be aware of. The first is auto insurance requirements. In Washington State, you are required to carry 25 000 USD per person and 50 000 USD per accident in bodily injury coverage. You are also required to carry 10 000 USD in property damage as well as uninsured/underinsured bodily coverage of 25 000 per person and 50 000 USD per accident.
There are two life insurance regulations to be aware of in Washington State. First, be aware that there is no free look period like there is in most states. If you sign up for life insurance, you are not able to cancel within 10 days in order to get a refund on your policy premium. However, there is a law that requires timely payment on insurance claims in the state of Washington. In fact, the state requires that the beneficiaries account start accruing interest on the day of death. That means that insurance companies will have to pay more for each day that they fail to pay the benefit. There is also a misrepresentation law when it comes to life insurance in Washington.