June 14th, 2024 10:07 AM by Linda Holley
Wake-up call! Sarasota County was surprised Tuesday night by a record-breaking deluge that brought in almost four inches of rain within an hour. Streets were flooded, drivers were stranded, and there were power outages. I live in central Sarasota, and our condo association's clubhouse had ankle-deep water by 9 p.m.
This County's storm water infrastructure couldn't handle the water surge. Siesta Key, less than 7 miles from the City of Sarasota, reported nearly a foot of rain and many areas saw over 5 inches within 24 hours.
Homeowners: get flood insurance! Hello...this is Florida, and it floods. I pay less than $400 a year for this coverage. It's absolutely worth it! Our condo association's commercial policy specifically excludes coverage for rising water since our community is not in a special flood hazard zone. How many homeowners have the money to remediate the interiors of their homes out of pocket? Don't "assume" that your personal property insurance or the commercial policy for your condo association will take care of flood damage within your unit. Chances are it WON'T.
No interior condos in my community were affected by the storm, but if the rising water had, owners would have to replace flooring, lower cabinets, drywall and trim--out of pocket. I personally saw the devastating circumstances one subdivision experienced in Venice during Hurricane Ian. Those who had flood insurance recovered quickly. Those owners who didn't are still trying to recover.
If you live in Florida or are considering buying a home here, I highly recommend purchasing flood insurance. FEMA says, "Floods can happen anywhere - just one inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damage. Flood insurance is a separate policy that covers buildings, contents in a building, or both, so it's important to protect your most important financial assets--your home, your business, and possessions."
Linda Holley, Realtor, GRI, SRES, CIPS, Fine Properties, 941-914-4914
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