Flood insurance is not just for those living on the coast, or close to a river, stream or lake.

• Homes in Vermont and upstate New York were flooded by rain from Hurricane Irene in 2011.
• 30,000 square miles of the Midwest were flooded by the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in 1993.
• Flash floods affect every neighborhood, even desert cities such as Las Vegas.
• Your chances are 1 in 4 of experiencing flood damage during the course of a 30–year mortgage.

It seems like what used to be a hundred-year flood happens every other year. Today, flood insurance has become an essential component of your insurance coverage. However, nearly all property insurance policies, regardless of the carrier, exclude flood as a cause of loss for a property claim or personal property claim.

So how do you protect your home and belongings? You purchase flood insurance from an agent authorized to sell the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Depending on where you live, your mortgage may require you to purchase flood insurance.

The program offers contents-only coverage for renters, and building coverage, with optional contents, for home owners. Read more about what is covered and what is excluded by the federal program.

Inspect the shingles. Cracks, breaks, peeling, and loss of grains all indicate that asphalt shingles are nearing the end of their effective life. Water stains can point to a slope problem and possible decking failure. A spongy feel underfoot is a warning sign that the decking is getting wet and is failing.

Clean, but don't power wash. The pressure from a power washer can strip off the top layer of shingles, making them vulnerable to the sun’s UV rays, and can loosen shingles making them less resistant to wind storms. Instead, pick up sticks and debris by hand, then gently sweep. Moss or mold growth are best treated with a spray-on cleaning solution you can buy at the hardware store.

Empty the gutters by hand. Clean out the dirt, sticks, leaves and seeds by hand first, then use the garden hose to rinse. Just using the hose risks plugging the drain pipe. Secure any loose section, and recheck for puddles in the gutter which indicate that the slope is too shallow.

Refasten loose flashing. Wind, ice and snow can cause the flashing around vent stacks, chimneys, and skylights to heave. It does not take much of a gap for water to slip under the flashing and shingles, and into the decking.

Check the soffits and fascias for gaps. No one wants a family of wasps, squirrels or bats to set up housekeeping in the attic.

Stay safe. Get help with the ladder and take it slow, or just call a local roofer to spend a few hours checking for you. Roof maintenance is important, but not worth a fall.

Need to find a contractor? The National Roofing Contractors Association offers advice on picking a good roofer. Go to the site.

American Modern’s home office is just a short drive from communities in Ohio and Kentucky badly damaged by 12 tornadoes. In watching the news reports, we came across two interesting safety reminders of value to your customers

An article in USAToday details the critical importance of tie down straps for mobile homes. Although these are commonly required on new homes, older homes with straps should have them inspected, and if necessary, replaced.

In grade school we learned that if you were caught outside in a storm to get out of your car and lay in a ditch. However, in 2009 the Red Cross changed that recommendation because ditches fill up in a flash flood and also tend to trap debris. Instead, if you cannot reach a basement shelter, stay in the car, with the seatbelt fastened, crouch below the windows, and cover yourself with a blanket or jacket.

Donald Locasto, MD, director of the EMS division in the University of Cincinnati Department of Emergency Medicine, explained that car construction has improved in recent years so that it is better able to withstand flying debris. He even suggests letting the car run so that the airbags have power to activate in case the car is seriously impacted.

The best place to ride out a violent storm is a basement shelter, followed by the interior of a well-built structure. But if you are suddenly forced to choose among less safe options, the experts tell us to look for the best available option. It may well be the car.

The best place to ride out a violent storm is a basement shelter, followed by the interior of a well-built structure. But if you are suddenly forced to choose among less safe options, the experts tell us to look for the best available option. It may well be the car.

Consider linking to the Red Cross Tornado Safety Checklist