Flood insurance can help pay for damage to your home and belongings when regular homeowners insurance does not.
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Coverage
Exclusions
Q&A
Does homeowners insurance cover losses from a flood?
Homeowners insurance usually covers damage from fire, theft, vandalism, hail, lightning, and storms. These policies generally exclude catastrophes like flooding and earthquakes. These disasters require specialized policies. Moreover, in some places, damage from wind is not covered. To be certain, read your homeowners policy carefully.
What does flood insurance cover?
Generally, it covers damage to your house or buildings, including the duct work and foundations underneath. That can include electrical and plumbing systems; furnaces and water heaters; appliances; carpeting; cabinets; refrigerators; cooking stoves; built-in dishwashers; detached garages; and other items.
What do you mean by “flooding”?
NFIP insurance covers an excess of water on land that is normally dry, affecting two or more acres of land or two or more properties. This includes overflow from bodies of water, flooding from surface water, mudflows, and collapses along bodies of water due to erosion.
Is there anything flood insurance won’t cover?
NFIP insurance does not cover vehicles; any property outside of a building, such as wells, septic systems, patios, swimming pools, or trees; damage caused by moisture, mildew, or mold that could have been avoided by making immediate repairs; or relocation costs while you are out of your home.
I don’t live in a floodplain. Should I get flood insurance?
Decisions should be made after careful consideration. You can review FEMA flood maps available online. Or, you can call FEMA to find out if you are in a flood zone.
Even if you live outside a flood-prone area, it may be a good idea to have flood insurance. More than a quarter of NFIP claims are filed by people whose property sits outside of high-risk areas. These claims also account for one-third of flooding disaster assistance.