The city of St. Louis has received over 8.06 inches of rain as of 7 a.m., July 26, 2022 the most ever recorded there in a calendar day. Some areas on the northwest side of St. Louis received more than 10 inches of rain in six hours overnight..

Rainfall breaks all-time record in St. Louis | STLPR interesting article:https://news.stlpublicradio.org/health-science-environment/2022-07-26/all-time-record-breaking-rainfall-brings-flash-flood-warnings-to-st-louis.

We’re sure many of you in the St. Louis and those out of state heard of the devastation rainfall caused for the inhabitants of St. Louis on July 26, 2022. Many of you have questions as it relates to possible coverage and preventative maintenance. Below are a few things to keep in mind.

What is a Flood?

A flood is a temporary partial or complete inundation of an insured property caused by overflow of inland waters; unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or mudflow.

What is a Backup of a Sewer or Drain?

This is typically an inundation of a basement or a lower level of a building caused by water gushing up from sewers, drains, or sump pumps.

Is Flood normally covered under property policies?

NO. Flood is a standard exclusion on property policies. Therefore, damages caused by surface water entering a building will typically be excluded.

Is Backup of Sewers and Drains covered under property policies?

Typically, there is a sub-limit of coverage for damages caused by the backup of a sewer or drain. Most policies will have a minimum limit per building or per occurrence (or sometimes, both). I recommend, you review the policy for coverage prior to a claim is submitted.

If you need assistance I are more than happy to help.

Can we file a claim if there are damages from both Backup of Sewers and Drains and Flood/Surface Water?

Yes. If there are damages from both surface water and from water backing up from sewers and drains, you may submit a claim, assuming there is Backup of Sewers & Drains coverage available. An adjuster will determine the extent of damages caused by each peril.

If a claim is filed, due to the overwhelming amount of damages because of the inclement weather, your adjuster should contact the customer within the next 24 to 48 hours to discuss the claim. Meanwhile, I will share with the insured to please mitigate the damage by taking positive proactive steps to reduce the total amount of damages. Please take photographs of damages as much as possible. Please save all receipts if money is spent for materials to mitigate the damages. As a disclaimer, we cannot guarantee settlement or reimbursement for the cost of the materials.

The heavy rainfall in St. Louis, MO made national news yesterday. Please note that more rain is coming.

Prep Your Home for the Season with Our Fall Maintenance Checklist

1. Clean your gutters

Your roof’s drainage system annually diverts thousands of gallons of water from your houses exterior and foundation walls, so it’s vital to keep this system flowing smoothly. Clogged gutters can lead to damaged exterior surfaces and water in your basement. They are also more prone to rust and corrosion. Before the leaves fly this fall, clean your gutters, then cover them with mesh gutter guards to keep debris from returning.

2. Seal up air leaks

A home with air leaks around windows and doors is like a coat left unbuttoned. Gaps in caulk and weatherstripping let cold air into your warm home, and sealing up a drafty house can save up to 20% on your heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

3. Inspect your roof

Few homeowner problems are more vexing than a leaky roof. Once the dripping starts, finding the source of the problem can be time-consuming. Stop problems this fall before ice and winter
winds turn them from annoyances into disasters.

Start by inspecting your roof from top to bottom, using binoculars if necessary. Check ridge shingles for cracks and wind damage. Look for damage to metal flashing in valleys and around vents and chimneys. Scan the entire roof for missing, curled, or damaged shingles. Look in your gutters for large accumulations of granules, a sign that your roof is losing its coating, which can
portend larger problems. Finally, make sure your gutters are flowing freely.

4. Protect faucets from freezing temperatures

If you live in an area with freezing weather, take steps to ensure that outside faucets (also called sill cocks) and in-ground irrigation systems don’t freeze and burst. First, close any shut-off
valves serving outside faucets, then open the outside faucet to drain the line. (There may be a small cap on the faucet you can loosen to facilitate this draining.) If you don’t have shut-off valves, and your faucets are not “freeze-proof” types, you might benefit from Styrofoam faucet covers ($8, Walmart), which are sold at many home centers.

5. Give your furnace a checkup

Once a year, it’s a good idea to have your heating system inspected by a professional. To avoid the last-minute rush, consider scheduling this task in early fall before the heating season begins. Here are signs that you should have an inspection performed sooner:

Noisy belts: Unusual screeches or whines could be a signal that belts connected to the blower motor are worn or damaged.

Poor performance: A heating system that doesn’t seem to work as well as it once did could be a sign of various problems. Your heating ducts might be blocked, the burners might be misadjusted, or the blower motor could be on its last legs. The first step, however, is to make sure your furnace filter is clean.

Erratic behavior: This could be caused by a faulty thermostat or a misadjusted furnace.