A substantial number of Canadians are unaware that insurance coverage for overland flooding and earthquakes is entirely optional and not a part of their homeowners’ insurance by default, a new survey by LowestRates.ca has found.

According to LowestRates.ca’s online survey, 30% of the participants said that they did not know such coverages are add-ons and must be bought separately from homeowners’ insurance. The survey also found that 29% of respondents said that they had considered add-on insurance but did not add it.

Only 21% of survey participants added internal water damage (sewer backup) coverage, 9% added external water damage (overland flooding) coverage, and 8% added earthquake damage to their insurance.

The survey also noted that 4% of respondents had inquired about add-on insurance for floods or earthquakes, but were declined.

LowestRates.ca noted that although wind, ice and fire are usually included in most home insurance policies, overland flooding, sewer backup flooding, and earthquake insurance are optional add-ons.

“In the last 10 years, water has become a more prominent fixture in the risk outlook for Canadian properties, but it’s one of the more fragmented parts of property insurance. If your home floods because a branch crashed through your window in a windstorm, that will be covered under standard insurance, but overland flooding, such as from ice thaw, is not,” said LowestRates.ca expert and licensed insurance broker Steven Harris.

Flooding has become a major issue for many Canadians. Citing data from the Insurance Bureau of Canada, LowestRates.ca said that estimates have pegged that one in 10 Canadian homes is at high risk of flooding.

“You don’t want to be caught off-guard during an already-stressful time after your home floods,” commented Harris. “Check your policy now.”