Some Homeowners Scramble To Find Best Flood Insurance Amid El Nino Concerns

ATWATER VILLAGE (CBSLA.com) — Worried about the upcoming El Nino, many in Southern California are now scrambling to find the best flood insurance.

"We're worried about water coming in here," said Joyce Croker, a homeowner.

She and Joan Ellingham had some concerns about possible flooding at their Atwater Village home.

"Seeing all the stories on the news about the flooding on the East Coast and the South made us think, 'Hmm … El Nino year, perhaps this might be the year,' " she said.

The Los Angeles River, which is just blocks from their home, is also fueling her concerns.

They decided to invest in flood insurance.

"We have to protect our home," Ellingham said. "The biggest expense that we have is our home and all the things in it."

Theirs was just one of the many flood insurance calls made to Shaw, Moses, Mendenhall & Associates, an insurance agency in South Pasadena.

"We came in Monday morning to a hoard of messages," Ted Shaw, the president and founder of the agency, said. "Inquiries about flood insurance. We haven't written flood insurance but maybe a few a year at best."

The calls may have come at just the right time as it takes 30 days for coverage. Many still remember the flooding from 1998, another El Nino year.

But what exactly does flood coverage really cover?

"Rain coming down is the homeowner's policy. They would cover for the water coming in the roof. If it's water that's flowing down the street, and it comes up through the door, then it is covered by the flood insurance," he said.

There is also concern for those living near hillsides.

"As long as it's flowing as a result of the water. If a hillside comes down because of saturation or something of that nature, no, then that's earth movement and that's a different coverage altogether and a different policy," Shaw said.

Flood policies start as low as $250 per year and cover the house and garage, but not granny flats and other outdoor structures.

Mobile homes are covered if they are anchored to a permanent foundation and renters should get insured for the contents of their unit.

"Up to $250,000 on the home. $100,000 on the contents," Shaw said.