A: When it Floods
Background: We recently had our crawl space filled with water when the river we live on crested during a three day storm downpour. Since we live on a river, we are required to hold FEMA Flood Insurance. The adjuster came out, reviewed the damages, submitted a claim and we received a check from FEMA (mostly) covering the damage. Shortly after the check arrived a nasty letter from State Farm (they administer our FEMA policy) showed up. The letter stated that the adjuster noticed our property was misclassified on the policy and that we have a basement, not a crawl space. They would need a check from us immediately or else our FEMA policy would be canceled. Had the adjustor found a hidden entrance to Area 51 that exists under our home where we could jam the kids crap toys that now clutter our lives? first and only floor?
Of course not. FEMA now considers any area below grade a basement making our crawl space a basement and, of course, charging us more to insure. Have you ever noticed that when companies or people change the definitions of words or expand them you always end up paying more? For example:
Beef Franks: more expensive than Hot Dogs
Home Audio System: cost more than a Home Stereo
Porch Screening System: way more than that old Screen Porch
Any ways, I did a quick check and found that a basement is: "The lowest habitable story of a building, usually below ground level." Maybe I was missing something, could habitable mean chipmunks can live there? Nope. "Habitable" means "Being in a condition appropriate for human habitation." I guess it depends on your definition of "appropriate". This could go on forever...
Does this look like the basement you played spin the bottle in when you were young?
1 Comments from MAG Readers:
Nope - you're right - it's a crawl space. Even the kids cannot stand upright. Freaking insurance companies...arrrrgh.
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