Floods: When the insurance must pay

Floods currently holds the citizens in the border triangle of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic in breathing. Many towns and villages were flooded, the people affected are facing the ruins of their existence. The floods destroyed belongings and left a trail of destruction. Now the victims of the torrential floods at least hope to compensation from their insurance . What few people know but: in flood damages are neither classical nor included in the household insurance of private clients. We explain what insurance paid for the damage anyway, and how to protect citizens in areas at risk from nasty surprises.
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* Photo-series: flooding in Saxony, Poland and the Czech Republic
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Elementarschutz in the building insurance

Those who live in flood areas, lives always with the risk of dangerous flooding that can sometimes within hours and property destroyed thousands. Here we need to protect themselves properly, at least in terms of insurance. Since not replace conventional household contents insurance or residential damage by storms or floods, Christian Lübke advised by the General Association of German Insurers (GDV) to all affected to take out natural forces. However, have only one quarter of all households in Germany that protection. But the more important. Why should people check their insurance cover in time to be secured properly in an emergency.

Siegfried Karle, president of the association money and consumers (GVI) in Heilbronn, recommends more insurance quotes in the field of building insurers. Only these supplementary safe from damage caused by floods, heavy rain or flooding. The natural forces in the field of household goods, by contrast, is often not necessary. "In general, the cellars are involved and there are rarely stored valuables," said Karle. Consumers should consider durchrechnen and whether additional insurance is appropriate in their case. However, more and more regions in Germany are affected by heavy rain.
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Heavy rains take

"Today we have heavy rainfall in regions that were spared before," says Lübke. Nor were 98.5 percent of all houses insured against flooding problems. At 1.5 percent it would be difficult as they are in danger areas such as the Oderbruch with the strong river flows. In these risk areas are the basic insurance, however, very expensive or are not even offered. Often insured must negotiate individual contracts here. "Here, there are schemes over a deductible." They are freely negotiated amounts - for example, be taken in case of damage, the first € 150 yourself.

If heavy rain, flooding or flood damage to their own belongings and done, should report the loss immediately affected their insurance. The federal government advises the insured person to send the declaration of loss by registered letter with return receipt. To document photos should be made. In addition, a list of all damaged items is required. Those who are not insured can make the damage may be submitted at the next tax return and settle there for repairs and replacement costs as extraordinary stresses.
Car through the partial or full insurance protection as owned property.

Unlike property and valuables flood damage on the car are covered by the partial or full insurance. If repairs are necessary due to flood damage, the insurer shall pay the costs. At a total loss of the replacement value is replaced, are relevant for, inter alia, age, mileage and equipment of a car. The damage bonus does not affect a flood event, Katrin Rüter explained by the General Association of German Insurers (GDV). make the claim that, therefore, attracts no premium increase for themselves.