Are You Covered Against Floods? MetLife Auto & Home provides tips and resources on flood damage.

WARWICK, R.I. -- With the arrival of spring, hard rains are bound to fall. Heavy rain has pounded much of the country in recent days--and more is expected in the days and weeks to come. Flooding is nature's most common natural disaster, affecting tens of thousands of homeowners nationally each year, and causing over $600 million in property damage in the United States, according to the latest statistics available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As if that weren't bad enough, many property owners are often stunned to find out that their homeowners insurance policies may not cover any of the damage that may arise. E[acute accent]"People are often surprised to discover that flooding could happen to them," said Franklin Reid, an assistant vice president for MetLife Auto & Home who oversees the company's flood program. "Flooding occurs in all 50 states in the United States, and, in fact, up to 25 percent of all flood claims come from people living in low-to-moderate-risk zones. Many people also aren't aware that flood damage isn't covered by most standard homeowners insurance policies, even though flood insurance is usually relatively inexpensive, and can easily be purchased for a home or business, to cover both your building and contents, subject to policy limitations." E[acute accent]The danger of flooding should never be taken lightly. Fast moving water just two feet deep could actually wash away cars, and flood levels could reach more than twenty feet high, resulting in devastating losses for families, businesses, and entire communities. MetLife Auto & Home, one of the nation's leading insurers of auto and homes, offers the following tips about flooding:

E[acute accent]--Know the facts about floods. A flood/flash flood watch means a flood is possible, and a flood/flash flood warning means that flooding has already begun, or is about to begin.

E[acute accent]--Take all flood warnings extremely seriously. Leave immediately, if you're ordered to do so. When leaving, stay on approved paths; other routes may be washed out. Make certain your car's gas tank is full.

E[acute accent]--If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go back. Never try to cross flood waters. If you can't turn your car around, leave it there and walk to higher ground.

E[acute accent]--To prepare for any natural disaster, it's a good idea to have an emergency kit on hand at home. Items to consider include bottled water, canned food items, a first aid kit, sanitary supplies, a battery-operated radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.

E[acute accent]For more information about flood preparation, MetLife Auto & Home has established a flood web site, available at www.metlifeflood.com. "This comprehensive site, which was developed in collaboration with FEMA, will help educate consumers and agents about flood risks, promote awareness of the benefits of flood insurance, and assist agents with the flood insurance sales process," said Reid. In addition to providing flood insurance protection basics, the site provides consumers with the ability to view sample policies and determine whether their communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. E[acute accent]The company also offers free materials about flood and other disasters, which are available by calling 1-800-MET-LIFE. The materials include a Life Advice(TM) brochure called "Preparing for Floods," which is based on information from the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the American Red Cross, as well as a poster featuring PEANUTS(R) characters about "Floods and Flash Floods" that is co-branded by the Institute for Business and Highway Safety (IBHS) and the American Red Cross. E[acute accent]MetLife Auto & Home, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is one of the nation's leading personal lines property and casualty insurance companies with more than 2.7 million policies in force. For more information about MetLife Auto & Home, visit MetLife's web site at www.metlife.com. E[acute accent]MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its Affiliates, Warwick, RI.