Flood vs. storm surge

[GalvestonDuck]

Is it just me -- or does anyone else out there believe that storm surge is NOT the same as flooding?

My friends are moving to a new place (off the island, but still coastal). The topic of insurance was being discussed. The insurance agents said that they don't cover flooding, but they cover windstorm damage and water damage caused by the windstorm, which (as was defined to me) is when the wind busts through a window, door, wall, roof, whatever, and allows the water to come into the apartment. I asked what flooding was defined as and they said when the rainfall accumulates and causes the water to rise up from the ground and into the house.

I said that storm surge is not rainfall so shouldn't it be covered even if that water doesn't get in through an opening caused by the wind. The guy again tried to say it was flooding if the rain builds up and...blah, blah, blah. And I again said that it wasn't rain -- it was a big massive WALL of ocean water being pushed by the WIND. I think back to Allison and I remember how we had some street flooding, but nothing else major here like Houston had. The wind was the major thing here and I remember all the palms flying around and debris in the streets.

So, in your opinion, is storm surge the same as flooding?

[yoda]

NO it is not the same....

Storm Surge is defined as High sea level along a shore from the strong on shore winds and to a lesser extent low pressure associated with a hurricane or nor'easter. Most times, storm surge will come from a landfalling hurricane. Flooding can be like that, but it is NOT the same. Flooding occurs when there is too much rainfall in a certain area and the ground can't handle it anymore, so the water rises. Sort of like what happens on a river...

Hope this helps.. Anyone else wish to take a stab at it?
I will look for more information to help ya Duckie!

[BayouVenteux]

You are correct in defining storm surge as being for the most part a coastal --meaning the immediate shoreline -- effect of a landfalling storm's winds, but what about when a surge is capable of causing "flooding" well inland, as much as 30-40 miles away, and in rare cases more than double that distance? Here in southeastern Louisiana, due to several geographic factors, it's happened in numerous instances. So, say if we were to have a storm identical to the state's modern-day benchmark for severity --1965's Betsy -- where you have a 5 to 7 inches rainfall in a relatively brief period (which we have had in summer thunderstorms from time to time!) but widescale strong winds in a storm on a path that maximizes the surge effect. Who then would be responsible for making the determination if flooding (rain-swollen rivers and bayous) or wind-driven storm surge was the cause of my property damage? What if the surge effects and strong winds are what keeps the heavy rainfall-filled rivers from draining? There are countless rivers and bayous and miles of low-lying inland swamp and bottomland, all interconnected, that would feel the direct effect of an storm surge in the right situation. Many of them 2 or more hours drive away from "shore" That is a lot of policyowners and a lot of insured property. Basically, the insurance companies would get soaked and the lawyers would be the real rainmakers with all the litigation that would ensue with the windfall of claim disputes...they're not in the business they are in due to their charitable nature. Guess that's why you have The National Flood Insurance Program.

So I guess the moral of the story is...in the eyes of the insurance industry, a flood is a helluva lot of water. Period.

[vbhoutex]

You are technically correct Duckie. However, for insurance puposes, flooding is described as rising water entering into a building, so that would include storm surge. After all it is rising water, it is just pushed by wind and tides. So BOTH of you were correct and both of you were wrong. However the insurance agent needs to learn his/her definitions better. Flooding is not only due to rainfall at a site, but can be from rainfall hundreds of miles away raising the level on a waterway to a flooding level. Where is Lindaloo when I need her?(she is in insurance)

[GalvestonDuck]

Oh yeah -- Linda? What's you take on this issue?

Also, thought of something else -- since the guy said that coverage was provided for water that gets in via a hole produced by wind (through window, roof, whatever), what if that hole was produced by the water? In other words, what if the strong wave of water broke the window and got into the house that way?

Furthermore, if someone's home gets damaged by "flood" during a hurricane and they slip in really quick and bust a window out, can the agents debate about how the water damage occurred?

[stormcrow]

The insurance industry has it worked out. Storm surge and flood are part of the same exclusion. NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) covers both. Have seen situations where severe roof damage allowed water to enter and cause a lot of damage and at the same time the property flooded. The mean flood level it determined and is used to determine who pays for how much (ie flood might pay for the lower 4 feet of drywall). If you are in an area where you may experience storm surge or flooding, make sure you have a NFIP policy. I understand that during the recent floods in New Jersey as few as 20% had flood policies.