RICHMOND – This is National Hurricane Awareness Week, and the State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) Bureau of Insurance urges Virginians to know what do to before, during and after the winds and rains arrive.

     Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. No matter where you live in Virginia, hurricanes and their resulting inland flooding can threaten lives and property. With this in mind, the Bureau stresses the need for Virginians to use caution and plan ahead.

     Severe inland flooding can occur in areas that are hundreds of miles from the eye of a hurricane. Many deaths can occur as a result of inland flooding, not because people are overtaken by rising water, but because they walk or drive into flooded areas, not realizing the speed and strength of those waters.

     The Bureau of Insurance has teamed up with the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other organizations throughout the southern United States to alert the public to the life-threatening dangers of inland flooding caused by hurricanes, tropical storms and torrential rains. The “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” campaign is being launched during National Hurricane Awareness Week. It urges people to avoid flooded areas whenever possible, whether you are driving or walking.

     The Bureau also reminds Virginians to protect themselves financially ahead of time. “Make sure you have the proper insurance coverage. Check your insurance policy or contact your agent or your insurance company to discuss what coverages you have available,” said SCC Insurance Commissioner Alfred W. Gross.

     If you live in a floodplain near a river, or if you live near the coast, Gross recommends that you consider purchasing separate flood insurance for your home. Although homeowners insurance policies issued in Virginia typically do not provide coverage for damage to your home and belongings due to floods, the federal government does sell insurance for direct flood and flood-related damage, including mudslides and erosion, under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). If you live in an area subject to flooding, you should contact your insurance company, agent or the NFIP at 1-888-356-6329.

     The Bureau of Insurance has specially-trained staff to assist Virginians with their insurance questions and concerns. It also offers free consumer insurance guides dealing with disaster recovery, homeowners, auto, life, health and long-term care insurance.

     For more information, contact the Bureau of Insurance toll-free at 1-877-310-6560 or visit its website at www.state.va.us/scc/division/boi. Consumers who are deaf or hearing or speech impaired may call through the SCC’s Telecommunications Device for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TDD) at (804) 371-9206. The Bureau’s website includes a link to FLASH’s “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” campaign which features additional information about preparing for and dealing with weather-related disasters.

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