If the recent rainfall has you nervous about wet basements, backed-up lines or leaky roofs, youre not alone. Lately, Cincinnati could easily be mistaken as Seattle -- and many of us are probably lacking a key form of coverage in our homeowners policy: Flood insurance. Thats right -- Ohioans need flood insurance, too! Flood insurance covers physical damage to structures affected by flooding from heavy snowmelt and runoff following heavy rainfall. Your flood insurance policy will also co...

Spring has sprung in Cincinnati, which means its storm season! Thunderstorms can obviously wreak havoc on your home and yard, but there are several things homeowners can do to prepare. Here are 6 storm preparation tips for homeowners: 1. Clear your gutters You probably havent done this since the fall -- and leaf buildup, ice melt and even dirt have likely collected since then. Keep your gutters in tip-top shape with regular, seasonal cleanings. 2. Consider a portable generator Th...

Do you have flood insurance? If so, your rates may be going up. Beginning April 1, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance policy premiums will increase by an average of 6.3%. How much your insurance will increase depends on the type of policy you have. Seeing the biggest (up to 25%) up in premiums will be those with the following insured "risks": Pre-FIRM (Flood Insurance Rate Map) subsidized non-primary residential properties; Pre-FIRM subsidized non-residential bus...

  In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, many of us are likely thinking about flood insurance. While Southwestern Ohio isnt in hurricane territory, we arent immune to the effects of hurricane season and/or flooding (see above picture of the Cincinnati riverfront from the 2015 flood). Heres what Ohioans should know about flood insurance: Ohioans need flood insurance, too! Flood insurance covers physical damage to structures affected by flooding from heavy snowmelt and runoff following hea...

Theres (a little) good news for homeowners: last Friday, President Trump signed legislation reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program until Dec. 8, 2017, which essentially buys more time for Congress to consider reforms of the program. As we reported recently, the NFIP was set to expire in a few weeks on Sept. 30. The NFIP extension is part of a Congressional resolution raising the debt limit and funding the U.S. government through the beginning of December. It also authorizes $15....