Roundup: Pennsylvania Homeowners Urged to Buy Flood Coverage.

After a snowy winter, the governor of Pennsylvania is urging homeowners to protect themselves from financial damage during the spring flood season by purchasing insurance.

Insurance commissioner Diane Koken, who works for Gov. Ed Rendell, said heavy precipitation from last winter may increase the risk of flood damage this year.

"The melting snow from this year's storms reminds us of the potential for water levels rising in our creeks and streams," Ms Koken said. "Consumers cannot assume that they won't experience flooding because they do not live in a floodplain."

In fact, many of Pennsylvania's communities are built on floodplains, she said, making the state more vulnerable to flooding. According to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the commonwealth has about 83,000 miles of rivers, streams and creeks. Excessive rain, inadequate drainage or dam failure may cause thousands of dollars in damage. Commissioner Koken said homeowners and business owners should discuss flood coverage with their insurance agents.

"Standard homeowner policies do not include coverage for flood damage," she said. "Because there's a 30-day waiting period before a policy becomes effective, the sooner you get coverage, the better."

Flood insurance is available to homeowners and businesses in Pennsylvania and other states in communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The insurance can be purchased for any insurable property, including rental property and condominiums, even if it is not in a flood plain.

Flood insurance policies cover damages related to the partial or complete flooding of normally dry land from the overflow of inland or tidal water, unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface water from any source, mud slides or mudflows that are caused by flood, the collapse or destabilization of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water resulting from erosion, and waves or water ...