Flooding impacting Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee is a reminder, flooding and flash floods can happen almost everywhere, and at any time. According to the Federal Emergency Management Administration, on average between 20 and 25 percent of all flood insurance claims are paid to people living outside high risk areas. With more precipitation expected for those areas, as well as parts of Alabama and Mississippi, State Farm Insurance is reminding people to use extreme caution while driving and preparing their homes.



State Farm encourages extreme caution during a flood:

-- Never walk or drive through rushing flood waters. Even six inches of moving water is dangerous. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. -- Listen to radio or TV broadcasts for emergency information and evacuate immediately if told to do so. -- Avoid flood waters, storm drains and sewers. Move to higher ground or floors, even the roof if necessary. -- Keep children and pets away from flood water. -- Stay away from downed power and electrical wires since electrical currents pass easily through water.





Following a flood:

-- Clean your home. Throw out any foods that may have come in contact with flood waters, even canned goods. -- Have damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits and leaching systems serviced as soon as possible. -- Until local authorities proclaim your water is safe, boil water for drinking and food preparation.

Recent flooding is a reminder of the importance of protecting your property with flood insurance. It is important to note that, while most vehicles with comprehensive coverage have some insurance coverage for flood, the basic homeowner's policy does not provide flood coverage. Customers can contact their State Farm agent to purchase federal flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, provided the homeowner lives in a community that participates in the program. Federal flood insurance guidelines require a 30-day waiting period before new policies can be activated.



About State Farm(R):

State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,700 agents and 68,600 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 78.7 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com(R) or in Canada statefarm.ca(R).







SOURCE State Farm