Are You Protected 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, increasing the likelihood of floods across the country. Flooding is nature's most common natural disaster, affecting tens of thousands of homeowners and renters nationally each year and causing over $2 billion in property damage annually in the United States, according to the latest statistics from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

"People are often surprised to discover that flooding could happen to them, and some are even unaware that flood damage isn't covered by standard homeowners insurance policies," said MetLife Auto & Home Assistant Vice President Franklin Reid, who oversees the company's participation as a 'Write Your Own' carrier in FEMA's National Flood Insurance 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. 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."

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:

--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.

--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.

--If you encounter 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.

--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.

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 with information from 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.

Additional flood preparedness information is available at www.lifeadvice.com (choose "Disaster Preparation"). This material is based on information from the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the American Red Cross. In addition to offering ways to prepare for a flood, the site provides information on what to do after a flood occurs, what types of damages are generally covered under an insurance contract, and helpful links offering additional resources.

MetLife Auto & Home(R), a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is one of the nation's leading personal lines property and casualty insurance companies, insuring over 3.8 million autos and homes. The company was named among the industry's leaders in customer service according to J.D. Power & Associates' 2005 Claims Customer Satisfaction surveys for both auto and home. For more information about MetLife, visit www.metlife.com.

MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its Affiliates, Warwick, RI.