West Hollywood residents are trying to determine whether insurance will cover the extensive water damage caused by Thursday’s massive water main break. The rupture sent torrents of water through neighborhoods, flooding dozens of homes, apartment buildings, and businesses. Many properties were also left coated in thick mud after the floodwaters receded. Rick Dinger of Crescenta Valley Insurance told KABC-TV that coverage could be limited for many victims. He explained that standard homeowners and renters insurance policies typically do not cover damage caused by large-scale flooding. Because only about one percent of Californians carry separate flood insurance, many property owners and renters could face significant out-of-pocket repair costs. Dinger noted that if a pipe bursts on a homeowner’s own property, the resulting damage is generally covered under a standard policy. However, he says this incident will likely be classified as a flooding event, leaving many residents without insurance coverage for their losses.
