"

This is the time of year when there can be a lot of adverse weather and other conditions in many parts of the country. As such, that typically leads to many insurance agents likely spending a lot of their time in the coming months dealing with a larger amount of claims than they're used to, and the unfortunate reality is that they may often have to deny them because consumers don't have the right coverage.

Consumers who live in areas that are at risk for particular kinds of weather or weather-related conditions may need to significantly beef up the coverage on their home insurance policies to make sure they're fully protected from all kinds of incidents that might arise, according to a report from television station Fox 45 in Dayton, Ohio. One of the most common of these issues happens when basements flood, and many people - even those in the insurance industry - are still simply wary of spending what might be a relatively small amount of money for coverage they might not think they need.

""We are taking a lot of claim calls,"" said Phil Cox, who owns his own small insurance agency. ""We probably had 25 to 30 calls regarding water basements, hail and damaged roofs. On a typical day we probably get about two claims. The biggest mistake people make at times like this is thinking it'll never happen. I'm probably one of those. I don't have water and sewer back up [coverage] in my building because it seldom happens.""

What about auto policies?
Flooding can also impact cars, particularly for consumers who live in low-lying areas, the report said. When cars get flooded, the likelihood that their electrical systems can be damaged is often quite high, leaving many drivers with a need for a claim that might not be covered by their standard policies.

As a consequence of this, insurance agents should also try to take the time to regularly talk to consumers about what their current policies do and do not cover, the risk factors their properties face, and the additional types of insurance coverage they might need to buy as a result. By doing so, agents can help to avoid a lot of potential future frustration as consumers find themselves dealing with extremely expensive repairs that may not be covered by their insurance as it stands.

"