It was a spectacular fall recent Sunday afternoon when I got a call from my daughter, who was sobbing.

She lives on the first floor of a college dormitory. Six floors up, the plumbing had backed up, sending sewage and other filth into her room and an adjoining suite.

After learning no one had been hurt and that the university had started the cleanup and finding temporary housing, insurance questions starting popping into my head.

Even though my daughter's personal losses turned out to be minimal, I learned a valuable lesson: Don't assume that your homeowner's policy will provide the best protection on your children's dorm room or off-campus apartment possessions. It might be a better idea to purchase a separate renters policy with a low deductible of $50 or $100, and a relatively inexpensive premium of $200 or so.

And the good news is that basic coverage with a low deductible is relatively easy and quick for parents to obtain.

Standard policies cover losses from many perils, including theft, vandalism, damage caused by fire or lightning, smoke and even faulty plumbing.

Many policies also cover additional living expenses if the room or apartment is temporarily uninhabitable.

On the flip side, many policies limit or exclude coverage for jewelry, bicycles, artwork and other expensive items prone to theft. In these situations, you might need to purchase a rider that provides for extra coverage.

Policies pay either "cash value coverage" or "replacement cost coverage." You want the latter.

With replacement cost the insurer will reimburse the cost of a new, comparable item. Cash value pays the value of the property at the time of loss.

The best place to start your research is with your agent and on your child's college's Web site.

One of the nation's largest providers of student personal property insurance is National Student Services Inc., which markets its products at more than 1,600 colleges and universities.

For example, the company offers a basic personal property plan providing $2,000 of "replacement cost" coverage with a $25 deductible for onor off-campus students. The cost: $55. National Student Services sells up to $20,000 in additional coverage. The company also said its policies cover property for students traveling abroad and for items in storage or at home.

Before purchasing a policy, check on processing fees, how long the policy is in effect and what you need to do at the end of the school year to either cancel or extend the policy.

Insurance agents recommend that students take inventory of their valuables, such as computers, TVs and MP3 players. The inventory should list each item's value, receipt and serial number. Document with photos and store in a safe place.

One other important consideration: In the residential housing agreement that students must sign prior to registering for classes, there's probably a footnote that specifies whether the school is responsible for loss of or damage to personal property. Read it carefully.

My point: Don't expect the university to reimburse you for losses.

Contact Steve Rosen at srosen@kcstar.com or write to him at The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108.