Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?

August 29, 2019 By W3 Insurance

Flooding from a Hurricane If you’re asking, “Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?” we sincerely hope that you are not already ankle-deep in H2O. Answering the water damage coverage question is nuanced; whether your homeowners insurance will cover water damage depends on a number of factors. Let’s dive in.

Types of Water Damage Commonly Covered by Homeowners Insurance

From overflowing dishwashers to water damage after a fire, the following items are typically covered by homeowners insurance.

Plumbing – Burst pipes, resulting damage from faulty work and accidental overflow are usually covered.
Fire – Extinguishing a blaze demands water to douse the flames. The resulting damage will be covered.
Leaky roof – Sorry to all those who were looking to get a new house-topper! While repairs needed due to leaks from lack of maintenance or wear and tear are not covered, if the wind removes a portion or all of your roof and lets the rain inside, your home insurance responds.
Accidental overflow – Should an appliance or fixture malfunction, you are likely in luck regarding recompense. This is one of those classic “thank goodness I purchased insurance” moments when the damage is an absolute surprise. Be aware that some policies limit or exclude water damage. Check your policy for specific terms and conditions.
Mold – When left undetected long enough, mold can pose a significant respiratory hazard. If mold is the result of a covered water damage loss, eradication expenses will be paid. Policy limits for water damage and mold coverage will vary depending on your policy form. This is another important reason to review your policy each year and to speak with your personal insurance advisor if you have questions.
Vandalism – The creative list of possibilities in this category is endless. Luckily, your homeowners insurance will most likely cover the damages.

Types of Water Damage Not Covered by Homeowners Insurance

Now for the not-so-great news: Not all water damage is covered by homeowners insurance. Here are a few items that are not.
Ground seepage – When rain falls to the ground, it doesn’t travel straight down. It moves underground and sometimes resurfaces in low-lying home areas. Damages from ground seepage are not covered by homeowners insurance.
Poorly maintained pipes – You are held to a certain level of care regarding your home. If those pipes are exceedingly old or the repair work on them is shoddy, your coverage is likely not going to help you.
Water or sewer pipe backup – Avoid this scenario by keeping your pipes in good working order.
Flooding (rising surface water) – This comes as a surprise to many, but damage from rising surface water will not be covered by homeowners insurance.

Why Flood Insurance is so Important for Florida Homeowners

Repeat the following adage as many times as it’s necessary to convince yourself that flood insurance is a necessary protection: Everyone lives in a flood zone. Even if you don’t have a view of the Gulf, you are still susceptible to nature-led flooding. Let’s talk hurricanes. Florida is the ultimate tourist destination for hurricanes, and these unwelcome storms bring massive flood potential with them. We also live in a state with massive rainfalls. These events can happen anywhere and at any time. Lastly, storm surge and tidal waters can easily flood or even level an entire home.

Not Sure if You’re Covered? Ask Your W3 Advisor.

At W3 Insurance, our advisors know protection. Specifically, our team understands the nuances of flood coverage and can direct you to the policy that is right for you. Before the flood, there’s W3. Contact us for a review of your current policy or to elect new coverage.

Shoo, Hurricane Dorian: A letter from the W3 Insurance Experts

August 29, 2019 By Amy Hammond

Dear Hurricane Dorian,

You might as well head back out to fizzle in the Gulf; Floridians are not rolling out the Welcome mat for you. This isn’t some Disney-caliber homecoming. Expect storm shutters, LED lanterns, and hordes of prepared Southerners waiting out your wrath with plenty of batteries and board games. We have cases of Cheetos that our kids can’t wait to eat. Our water supply could satisfy a whale. And thanks to the tips shared by your nemesis, W3 Insurance, we’re as prepared as we possibly could be for you.

So go away, Dorian. If you do insist on landfall here in the Sunshine State, here’s what you can expect:

Millions of Floridians with solid hurricane insurance coverage. W3 Insurance advises clients to prepare long before that first blip on the radar. How? By putting together a comprehensive coverage program. ‘Hurricane insurance’ does not truly exist, but by combining the right policies, protection against high winds and rain is possible. Remember: Florida flood insurance is not the same thing as Florida homeowners insurance. W3 Insurance advisors know this and have directed their clients to purchase add-on policies accordingly.
We’ve checked our supply lists – and we’ve checked them twice. Floridians are no stranger to this game of storm roulette. Most of us can recite the necessities of physical preparation in our sleep: enough water and food stockpiled to last each member of the family at least three days. A log of possessions. Necessary medicines close at hand. Important documents gathered together, ready for quick evacuation if need be.
Thanks to W3 marine advisors’ foresight, Florida watercraft is ready too. In an attempt to minimize losses, our boat owners properly secure boats before a huge storm hits. These security measures can include placing the boat in storage, removing loose items such as canvas and more. Our clients understand hurricane haul out coverage and don’t hesitate to call our W3 Marine advisors to inquire as to whether it’s time to use it.

Dorian, whether you hit W3 clients as a blazing Category 3 or a piddling tropical storm (which we still acknowledge can cause significant damage), we Floridians are ready for you. And after you leave, W3 advisors will be at the ready to answer policy questions and more. We can’t change the weather, but we can change the way we handle it. And that’s where W3 Insurance advisors truly shine.

Hope to see you never, Dorian.

-Florida

The Equal Pay Act’s New Friend: Your EEO-1

August 20, 2019 By Amy Hammond & Helena Amaral

Employers Need EPL Like Never Before

Employers: The time to elect Employment Practices Liability coverage is now. Component 2 of the EEO-1 is due September 30, 2019, and it dictates payroll data be disclosed to the EEOC, who enforces the Equal Pay Act.

But I don’t intend to pay my employees in a discriminatory manner, you say. Surely I’m not culpable for a pay disparity?

You are – and here’s why.

The Equal Pay Act is a strict liability statute, meaning there is no need for the employer to intend to pay in a discriminatory manner. Component 2 requires employers to provide hours and pay information by the same categories as Component 1, which includes the category of sex. To the extent that the EEOC finds your reported information persuasive, they will seek to use Component 2 pay data as admissible evidence in the event of an Equal Pay Act claim against your company.

Dig into that payroll data, if you haven’t already, and check for objective disparity in your payroll that may give the appearance that it is based on sex. If it exists, check to see if there is a clear legitimate reason for each disparity (seniority, production, etc.). Find and fix any issues before someone else does.

Your next step? Contact W3 Insurance for an Employment Practices Liability policy. It’s our job to stay up-to-date regarding your employer requirements so you can focus on your ultimate goal – your business.

Watering the Dehydrated Workplace

August 6, 2019 By Amy Hammond

It’s time to water those workers! Raise a glass of H20 (or two) with your employees, and you may well find that concentration levels increase. Lethargic workers find a sudden burst of energy. And Joe, who’s always calling out from his cubicle about that afternoon headache? He’s working away on a project, noggin feeling just fine.

Here’s why it’s so important to support good water intake:

Air conditioning is virtually everywhere in Florida – and it’s a hydration negative. AC units are designed to lower the atmospheric water content, and that phenomenon leads to people experiencing water loss via the skin or lungs. Yes, indoor workers lose less water than those whose tasks take them outside – but they are not immune to dehydration just because they’re cooler.
Outdoor workers face an ongoing risk – According to the Mayo Clinic, water intake requirements depend on the person. It’s a sure bet that a road crew working in August on the blacktop is going to need more water than the CPA in her fifth-floor office building. The much-touted recommendation ‘8 glasses a day’ is relatively sound, though some individuals definitely require more liquids. Some require less. A good rule is for outdoor workers especially to stay ahead of thirst. Once one becomes thirsty, she is already mildly dehydrated.
Indoors or out, the dehydrated worker is likely not as productive as his water-swilling coworker. Our bodies cannot make the water we need in order to function optimally. Instead, it doles out symptoms to remind us to fill up those bottles. Lack of concentration is a commonly touted one, as is lethargy and headaches. None are helpful for work progress. Additionally, severe dehydration carries possible severe consequences that are much worse than lack of productivity.

What’s an employer to do? Consider a company-wide giveaway of stainless steel water bottles. (If you do opt for classic plastic, make sure they are BPA free. That’s a topic for another blog). Educate your workforce regarding dehydration symptoms. Encourage them to reach for a glass of water when they experience a lull in their day. Remind them that total liquid intake takes their food choices into account – thus that 2pm apple counts toward the hydration whole.

It could be that a good deal of workers are arriving to work dehydrated and leaving at the end of the workday in the same state. Make sure there’s water, water everywhere at the office, and that may be all it takes for on the job refreshment.