Why is Flood Water Considered a Category 3?

5/19/2022 (Permalink)

Heavy rain and localized flooding can cause your neighborhood’s sewers to backup and overflow out of your sinks and toilets. This can cause feces, used toilet paper and other sewer contents to spill into your home. While you might be able to stop the flood temporarily by closing doors and stuffing the bottoms of the bathroom doors and towels, the condition of the water makes its removal by a qualified flood damage and restoration service a must.

Flood Waters Fall into Three Categories:

• Category 1 – comes from a sterile source, such as burst supply line
• Category 2 – may contain rinse water and detergent residue from a washing machine or dishwasher
• Category 3 – this water may carry human and animal feces, chemical waste, and other hazards

Outdoor floods that occur as the result of heavy rainstorms or other weather events are almost always Category 3, as rushing waters can pick up a variety of contaminants before they enter your home. A lot of times insurance companies under a homeowner’s policy will not cover sewage backups. They will require an additional rider to be added to the policy in order to have coverage for flood events. Make sure to take a look at your policy to see the extent of your coverage.