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Contact: Press Offices
New York: 212-346-5500; media@iii.org
Wash. D.C.: 202-833-1580
Florida: 941-623-2479

NEW YORK, Sept. 7, 2004 - People whose property was damaged by wind and flooding from Hurricane Frances should contact their insurance company immediately.

Windstorm damage is covered under standard homeowners, renters and business insurance policies, while flood damage is not, according to the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Home owners should know what their deductible is for hurricane losses. Most homeowners policies in Florida now have a hurricane deductible (a percentage rather than a dollar deductible) of two to five percent of a home's insured value.

Flood insurance is available through the National Flood ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Program (NFIP), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Flood insurance for homes or small businesses can be purchased directly from the federal government or through insurance companies or agents.

The "comprehensive" portion of automobile insurance policies covers losses due to flooding, but not all drivers purchase comprehensive coverage. It generally is included in policies protecting newer cars but tends to be dropped as a car's market value declines.

Nationally, approximately 25 percent of eligible properties participate in the National Flood ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Program (NFIP). The other 75 percent of structures in flood-prone areas are uninsured against risk.

For more information on homeowners and flood insurance, visit the I.I.I. web site () or the NFIP web site (). The Institute for Business & Home Safety also has a brochure Protect Your Home Against Flood Damage, which is available by accessing their Web site:

The ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Information Institute is a non-profit communications organization committed to educating consumers about what insurance is and how it works.