On the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, a new survey of homeowners finds that more than a quarter of them are not clear if they have flood coverage, while more than a third are uncertain what their insurance covers for hurricane damage

The poll findings were released today by Hartford, Conn.,-based Travelers, of St. Paul Travelers Companies Inc. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive.

According to the "Travelers In-synch Homeowners Insurance Study," the research data also showed that:

o A little over one in four (27 percent) are not sure whether their policy will cover the replacement cost of rebuilding if the home is damaged.

o At least one-quarter (26 percent) report they are unsure whether damage caused by natural disasters is covered under their policy.

o Over one-third (36 percent) are unsure whether their policy will cover damage caused by a hurricane.

o Over four in ten (42 percent) are uncertain about earthquake coverage.

o One-quarter (26 percent) are unsure about flood damage.

o More than one-third (37 percent) are not sure whether their policy will cover hotel stays if their home is damaged.

The online poll--taken between May 30 and June 1--obtained responses from more than 1,300 adults ages 18 and older who currently own the home in which they are living.

Joseph P. Lacher Jr., executive vice president of Travelers Personal Insurance, said his company is encouraging people to talk to an independent agent to get more information about their coverage and to discuss their changing needs.

"It's all about managing risks, and keeping your insurance in-synch with your risks to put you in greater control," said Mr. Lacher.

The survey also asked how often homeowners reviewed their policy to ensure that it remained in-synch with their needs, and the ways in which they conducted that review. Travelers said the results suggested that more than four in ten (44 percent) homeowners had not revisited their insurance coverage in the past year--some not in the last 10 years.

"It's not at all unusual for homeowners to get insurance coverage when they buy a house, but not revisit it for years," said Mr. Lacher.

He noted the factors that impact coverage over the year include remodeling, installation of burglar alarms, major and minor purchases.

Travelers said the survey also reaffirmed the value of working with an insurance agent to make sure that coverage types and levels are where they should be. Two-thirds (66 percent) of those who last reviewed their policies with an agent strongly agreed that their current coverage was, in fact, in-synch with their needs.

The company said that to help homeowners identify common risks, it is offering the "In-synch Challenge," a fun and informative interactive game on http://www.travelers.com that provides important risk mitigation information to consumers.

Online visitors are asked to tour homes and businesses and to solve a series of common problems related to risks or exposures that policyholders typically overlook.

As an example, Travelers said, one game asks participants to correctly place smoke detectors inside a home. Another challenges participants' understanding of high-worth items that can be found in the average living room. A third asks small-business owners to spot areas where slip-and-falls might occur.

Mr. Lacher said the company is focused on getting the message out that, "The Travelers brand is about helping consumers make the best decisions based on the risks -- known and unknown."

Travelers said the survey is not based on a probability sample, and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated. The carrier said score weighting was used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

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Flood Coverage? 1 in 4 Homeowners Clueless

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