(CHEROKEE LAKE REALTY WRITES A WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE GRAINGER COUNTY JOURNAL NEWSPAPER. THIS WAS A RECENT QUESTION ASKED BY A READER.)
This is really a question for whoever will insure your property, but I will make a few observations that may educate you a bit on “lake life” when you talk to an agent.
Thankfully we don’t experience hurricanes like you did in Florida, and the type of wind and hurricane insurance you may have been required to carry. We do have tornadoes, but I’ve lived in this area for over thirty years and have never experienced the storms you see in other parts of Tennessee and the country. When you speak to your agent, do discuss this type of coverage. Just in case. As well as sinkhole protection. Sinkholes are common in this part of the state because our topography features underground caves, caverns, and flowing water channels that carve out the soft shales, clay soils, and limestone that easily erode. As an example, the city of Talbott contains over 1,280 recorded sinkholes.
Flood insurance should also be discussed. Being close to Cherokee Lake is different than being close to the Gulf or the Atlantic Ocean in Florida. Proximity to the lake doesn’t mean you will be in a flood zone. We have TVA to thank for that. They do a fine job in managing water levels to protect folks that are lakefront. However, I recommend you check the federal flood maps available online https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home and see if you are in a flood zone. If you will be having a mortgage, your lender will require that you carry flood insurance. If not, then it becomes optional. High-risk area, moderate-risk area, or minimal-risk area, are the categories that will identify your property.
One more thing. Anytime you live close to the water the maintenance of your home is extremely important. We all know what moisture can do to a home, so with a setting close to the lake, maintenance becomes even more important. But, unlike Florida, the salt water and salt air humidity that comes from the ocean will not be a concern here. That environment will damage metal roofs, window frames, railings, fasteners, outdoor hardware, etc. In fact, research shows that air conditioner condenser coils (made of copper tubes and aluminum fins) degrade quickly from salt deposits, cutting a unit’s lifespan from 10-15 years down to 5-7 years without adequate maintenance. So, there you go, another great reason to move to East Tennessee. Welcome neighbor!
