If you mentioned Hammond to anyone outside of Indiana they might know it's a small city in the Midwest. Maybe they'd even know it was near Chicago. What they probably wouldn't know is how much water surrounds the city. From the shores of Lake Michigan to the north, to the Grand Calumet flowing east and west to Lakes Wolf and George in the Robertsdale neighborhood, Hammond has thousands of acres of water. Guess they don't call it Lake County for nothing. With all that water come special needs when shopping for Hammond insurance quotes. Let's see why.
High Water in Hammond
In 2007, the City of Hammond prepared a report called the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. The report identified potential natural hazards Hammond residents could face and ways the city could help reduce losses from these hazards. First, some of the hazards and their likelihood:
- Extreme Temperature - Highly likely
- Flooding- Highly likely
- Severe Winter Storm - Likely
- Thunderstorm/ High Wind - Highly likely
- Tornado—Possible
The report noted information from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) that there have been 16 floods in Lake County since 1993 resulting in an "estimated $14 Million in property damages." Is your home in a flood plain? Do you live near Lakes Wolf and George or near the Grand Calumet or Little Calumet? Not all neighborhoods in Hammond are high risk but you should know if yours is. A flood policy is additional to a standard Hammond insurance policy for your home and could cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000 extra depending on your flood risk and the insurer.
You can buy flood insurance up to $250,000 for damage to your home and up to $100,000 for damage to personal belongings.
Hammond Insurance Quotes: Car Considerations
With the potential extra costs of flood insurance, it's nice to know that when shopping for Hammond insurance quotes for your car that Indiana has some of the lowest rates in the country ($618 in 2007). All policies in Indiana must include uninsured and underinsured motorist's coverage unless you reject this in writing. Here are the minimum liability limits:
- Uninsured Motorists: Bodily Injury: $25,000/$50,000
- Property Damage: $10,000
- Under insured Motorists: Bodily Injury: $50,000
If you wanted to protect your car in case of flood, you would need coverage called "Other than Collision" which covers the actual cash value at the time of loss. Towing and road service typically cover removal of your car from a flooded area.
Shopping for Hammond Insurance Quotes
Because of the additional worries you'll have when shopping for Hammond insurance quotes, it's nice to go with a company that specializes in making your experience hassle-free. NetQuote searches hundreds of Indiana insurers so you get to comparison shop quickly. Let's get started.
