The devastation on the East Coast left in the wake of Hurricane Sandy has been tremendous, and as the nation is glued to the coverage from TV to Instagram for updates. In the face of such damage, it’s not uncommon to wonder how a natural disaster of this magnitude would affect you in a similar situation.

If you own your home, one of your first questions may be about

insurance claims for your house. Luckily, the Equifax Finance Blog has recently posted an article that explains this in their article, “

Hurricane Sandy Insurance Claims Tips.”

With a natural disaster like a hurricane, massive flooding can be a major issue for homeowners. According to the National Flood Insurance Program, it could cost almost $21,000 for as little as an inch of flood water to pour into a 2,000 square foot home!

The experts at the Equifax Finance Blog point out that homeowner’s insurance does not cover natural disasters, hurricanes or even flood damage, so keep that in mind when purchasing policies. The general rule of thumb is that if it comes from above it’s probably covered (like rain or wind) but if it comes from below (like a flood) it’s not.

This is why it is important to be prepared before a disaster occurs. Don’t worry, you do not have to become psychic to predict a dangerous future phenomenon near your home. There are many resources to help you understand the dangers of your area, including historical evidence, surveys and more. Learn and keep yourself protected by getting insurance that covers every type of damage you may have to deal with, including flood damage.

Let Equifax help you pick out your insurance by taking a look at their other great tips about insurance claims and natural disasters, as well as ways to protect yourself from financial problems like a low credit score or

child identity theft.