Jefferson City, Mo - The Missouri Department of Insurance is here to assist residents of Kansas City and the surrounding area who experienced flood damage after last night's storms.   

"The department is here to assist Missourians impacted by last night's flash flooding," said Missouri Department of Insurance Director John M. Huff. "We encourage residents and business owners to contact the department with any insurance related questions or concerns. Our state agency is here to help residents through the recovery process." 

According to the National Weather Service in Kansas City, residents saw up to 4.56 inches of rain, making Aug 27, 2016, the 11^th wettest day on record for Kansas City.  Residents were urged to move to higher ground due to flash flooding and now that the water has receded, they must work to clean up the damage.

The Missouri Department of Insurance offers the following tips to residents impacted by the storms.

• While an auto insurance policy with only liability coverage will not cover flood damage, comprehensive coverage under an auto policy may. Consumers with damage should contact their auto insurance company or agent to file a claim.

• Generally, homeowners insurance does not offer protection against flood losses. Homeowners must purchase a separate flood insurance policy to cover damage from a flood. If a homeowner or renter has a flood insurance policy and were impacted by last night's flooding, they should call their insurance company or agent to file a claim.

• Business owners should check their business insurance policy to see if they are covered for flood damage. Additionally, if their business closed due to flooding, they should see if they have business interruption coverage. Business interruption coverage can help offset financial losses if the business is unable to operate due to flooding damage.

• Residents are encouraged to contact the Missouri Department of Insurance at insurance.mo.gov or by calling 800-726-7390. If Missourians have lost the contact information for their insurance companies, the department may be able to help locate it.

Additionally, the department released a video podcast that discusses flooding and what a typical homeowner's insurance policy does not cover. The department also offers flood resources online that include information on how flood damage is covered.