Flooding and water damage are among the top five risks  for homeowners in Mississippi. Being part of the Dixie Valley in Mississippi means you are at increased risk of severe storms, so being ready for a flood is key. From keeping your gutters clean to understanding what damage is covered in your home insurance, it's essential to be prepared.

Whether you need new insurance or have questions about your current coverage, a Mississippi independent insurance agent can help you prepare yourself and your home for floods. Here's how your home insurance would cover basement floods and what you can do to minimize potential damage.

How Do Gutters Cause Indoor Flooding?

Gutters are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to the cause of indoor flooding, and also one of the most inconvenient parts of your home to maintain. A house needs roofing gutters in order to properly drain water, but it's crucial to keep your gutters clear of debris and clogging, or else you could end up with floodwater.

Top causes of gutter floods in homes:

• Clogged gutters: Having clogged gutters can cause basement flooding, piping back-ups, and even damage to your home's foundation or roof. Even though it's time-consuming, it's recommended that you clean your gutters twice a year. 
• Missing splash blocks: Water eventually needs to leave your gutters, and when it does, it needs somewhere to go. Splash blocks redirect the water away from the home. A water buildup can lead to basement flooding, foundation damage, and other issues if you do not have splash blocks.
• Loose gutters: A loose gutter can leave gaps between the gutters and the home where water can enter unwanted places. Once water gets into your basement, roof, windows, or foundation, you're at greater risk of indoor flooding.
• Defective pitches: The "pitch" is what guides the water in your gutters to flow to the downspouts. If your pitches are defective, water cannot correctly flow, resulting in standing water. Standing water can cause multiple problems, including roof damage, erosion, system damage, and siding damage.
• Faulty downspouts: Similar to defective pitches, if your gutters have faulty downspouts, the process of water flowing correctly through and out your gutters is disrupted. Once again, this could lead to standing water and a whole host of issues. 

Who's Responsible If the Gutters Flood My Basement?

The time and cause of flooding will play a role in who is responsible if your gutters flood your basement. If you recently had gutters installed and they were not installed correctly, the installation company may be accountable. If your gutters have been part of your home and flooded from poor maintenance, then the damage would be your financial responsibility.

If you determined that the flooding was caused by faulty installation, you would still file a claim with your homeowners insurance and would have to prove the flooding was a result of the company's negligence. Your insurance would then sue the company for the damage. 

If the gutter company refused to pay or was not found guilty of negligence, then you'd be responsible for the damage. This is where it can get complicated because home insurance only covers flood damage from particular perils. If it was determined that the damage was caused by a non-covered peril, you'd be on your own to pay. 

When Does My Home Insurance Cover Basement Flood Damage?

Basement floods are a tricky area of coverage for homeowners. Home insurance includes a list of covered perils where you'd be protected. However, flooding from natural waters is not a covered peril. 

When it comes to basement floods, your home insurance would only cover you if the flooding was internal, such as burst pipes, an accidental overflowing bathtub, and the like. If a severe storm swept through your county and left 23 inches of rainwater behind, your home insurance would not pay for damage from runoff, overflowing or broken gutters, surface water, stagnant water, or water running into the house from the gutters. 

Top 6 most common disasters leading to home flooding and whether they're covered by home insurance or not

1. Broken pipes: Covered by home insurance
2. Faulty drainage: Covered by home insurance
3. Clogged gutters: Not covered by home insurance
4. Broken appliances: Covered by home insurance
5. Damaged foundation: Covered by home insurance
6. Natural disasters: Not covered by home insurance

Of course, there is always the potential for exclusions or instances that would cause something to be covered or not covered. Working with a Mississippi independent insurance agent can help you clarify what events are covered in your home insurance policy, as well as some variations that may come with your unique situation.

What Does Home Insurance Cover in Mississippi?

Mississippi home insurance is a collection of coverages that protects your property, yourself, and the stuff inside it. Home insurance can be customized to fit your needs, but the basic coverages include:

• Dwelling coverage: Protects the home’s structure or “dwelling” from perils like storm damage, fire, vandalism, etc.
• Contents coverage: Protects your stuff like clothing, valuable collections, furniture, etc. from disasters like fire, theft, severe storm, vandalism, etc.
• Liability coverage: Protects against lawsuits filed by third parties. Coverage reimburses for legal costs, such as attorney and court fees.
• Additional living expenses coverage: Reimburses for extra expenses if your home becomes temporarily uninhabitable after a covered disaster happens. This includes expenses like hotel stays, additional mileage, meals, etc.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover in Mississippi?

Flood insurance is what will cover any damage from natural floodwaters in your home or your rental property. This policy can be purchased through private sellers, but is more commonly purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). An agent can help you secure this coverage, which provides the following protection: 

• Up to $250,000 in building coverage
• Up to $100,000 in contents coverage

Even with flood insurance, there are exclusions when it comes to basement floods. Often, items like heating and cooling systems will be covered, but your personal belongings may not be. An agent can walk you through the list of what's covered and what is not. 

What about Renters Insurance? Is That the Same Coverage as Homeowners?

When referencing rental properties, there are multiple parties involved that have coverage. The owner of the property is likely to have dwelling insurance that will provide the same coverage for flood damage as a traditional home insurance policy.

As the renter, it's your responsibility to carry renters insurance to protect your personal items that are within the home. Your renters insurance will cover damage to your personal possessions under the same perils as homeowners insurance. You would need to purchase a flood insurance policy if you wanted coverage for damage from natural waters. 

How Can a Mississippi Independent Insurance Agent Help?

Flooding can be a complicated insurance issue, so having an expert like a Mississippi independent insurance agent by your side can help you make sure everything is in order.

From preparing your home and your gutters to having the right protection, agents can help you with your questions and make sure you have the best coverage for your home long before you need it.